Fandom: Card Captor Sakura
Character/Pairing: Yamazaki/Chiharu, Sakura/Syaoran, Eriol/Tomoyo
Author on LJ: obakesan
Why this must be read:

Yamazaki is possibly the most criminally underused character in the CCS series. Tin makes up for this, a little bit, by writing a fic in which Yamazaki teaches sex-ed. Given his propensity for making stuff up, you can imagine the results...! The explanations he gives would be hilarious to anyone, even those unfamiliar with the series.

"Indeed, ladies and gentlemen," he continued into the stunned silence. "Which means, following my logic, that if you were to enact this Position, you and your partner have to be Sixty-Nine Degrees apart."

The class boggled.

"Is that--is that even _possible?" Syaoran asked. "I mean, how the hell do they do that? I mean, I like math and all but... I mean..."

Yamazaki smirked. "Obviously, Li-kun," he drawled, "they use a--" And he whipped out something from his jacket. "--PROTRACTOR!" He slammed said object on the blackboard with happy force. Everyone jumped. Even Eriol looked nervous.

The Yamasutra

I'll be driving for the Cardcaptor Sakura fandom, along with the House one (that's a lot of reccing for one gal, in a month!). To be honest, it’s been over four years since I was last actively reading CCS fic, so my recommendations are of the "classic," "tried and true" variety.

That said, if you, the readers, have any suggestions, I’m all ears! Be forewarned, however, that I won’t read Sakura/Syaoran. Yeah. Not cool, I know. I'm game for anything else.

Fandom: CARDCAPTOR SAKURA
Pairing: Sakura/Syaoran, Tomoyo/Sakura
Author on LJ: Doesn’t have one
Author Website: The Coming Adventure of Elaine and Miyu
Why this must be read:

I’ve always been a fan of Luriko-Ysabeth’s writing because not only does she have a lyrical, soothing style, but she also knows how to pack a whallop of a story. In “…and last, Hope,” she plays with the idea of Pandora’s box and comes up with an intriguing explanation as to why Sakura didn’t forget Syaoran at the end of the second movie.

It’s a hopeful fic, but also a little bit sad. Then again, isn’t hope always a bit tragic?

...and last, Hope

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: Tokyo Babylon
Pairing : Seishirou/Subaru
Author on LJ: none
Author Website: none
Why this must be read:

This fic is oddly hot, yet is still a complete character piece. I know that most of what I have recced has been character driven fic. However the subtlety of these fics captures the stories first presented by CLAMP so perfectly.

This fic is no different.

Subaru is derived of the finer senses of touch due to the warded gloves he wears at the behest of his Grandmother to protect him from the Sakurazukamori. In his warded bedroom Subaru takes a moment to really feel the world. Its sensual how he touches himself, and the imagery the author presents with descriptions of Subaru’s fantasy concerning Sieshirou’s suit is so sexy.

And that is what this fandom is all about, hints, secrets and sensuality. Its very subtleness increases its sexiness.

Bare


This is my last rec for this month. I hope everyone has enjoyed what I have recced so far, and with these beginings can find their way through the various CLAMP fandoms. Again, thanks for letting me share CLAMP (especially Tokyo Baylon and X) with everyone here!

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: X/Tokyo Babylon
Pairing : Seishirou/Subaru
Author on LJ: rahaeli
Author Website: http://www.midgar.net/
Why this must be read:

It is all the things that might have been... so many possibilities and yet in the end Subaru has to face what actually is.

It is sad, almost painful, but so wonderfully done, another perfect portrayal of Subaru.

CLAMP has always enjoyed luring their readers into becoming fully invested in a character or relationship just to dash our hopes. They specialize in the kind of sad tragedy that is so good to read, just like this fic.

Alternate Universes

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: X/Tokyo Babylon
Pairing : Seishirou/Subaru
Author on LJ: inkpawprints
Author Website: Behold, The Void.
Why this must be read:

I know I have already recced two stories from this author, but really her work is so exceptional. They are the like gems of the TB/X fandom; a perfect representation of everything the X/Tokyo Babylon fandom is. Really a reader can glean so much understanding of the fandom just by reading her works.

Nukume is one of the most well thought out and well written TB AU’s I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I have seen a few stories that try to capture this type of atmosphere but Leareth’s has been the best realized one I have read to date. She takes the potential of the plot --Subaru understanding the future and working towards a happier end to the sad events of TB-- and fully realizes it.

Reading her work is almost like seeing pieces of the characters lives that the original authors (Clamp) left out or forgot to mention. She manages to capture perfectly the love/hate dynamic that Clamp first introduced us to in TB and does it so well that sometimes I forget her work is not cannon.

I know I run the risk of sounding freaky but the fact the Subaru loves Seishirou no matter how much evil he does, even when that evil is done to him is just so freaking amazing and romantic. To read Leareth's work is to relive in a new form the perfect moments that drew me to the TB/X fandom. And her Seishirou is so in character that he scares me in the sexy creepy obsessive bad guy way.


Nukume Dori

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: X/Tokyo Babylon
Pairing : Seishirou/Subaru
Author on LJ: rackhamrose
Author Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/225060/
Why this must be read:

Seishirou and Subaru play an old game: tell two truths and one lie. Can they guess the truth, and if so what are the consequences?

This fic was written for the 1999 challenge: all fics submitted must be 1999 words exactly. It amazes me how she manages to fit such a detailed character piece into so few words. Its very simplicity is what makes it beautiful. The last line is the real kicker. It stilled my breath and made me gasp in the way only a perfectly executed ending can.

Simply wonderful!

Two Truths And A Lie

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: X fusion with Chobits
Pairing : Fuuma/Kamui (sort of) and many others
Author on LJ: baitedbreath
Author Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/78143/
Why this must be read:

Fuuma finds something he has always wanted lying in the trash, his very own persocon (personal computer)!

This story is fun, and cute. The fic follows the general story line from the Chobits manga but characters from X take the place of the characters originally in the manga.

I was never a large fan of Chobits but was very entertained by the idea of X characters within the Chobits verse.

The author manages to keep the story true to Chobits but still keep the X characters completely in character. That in itself makes this fic worth reading, not to mention the subtle hints of shounen ai, and its completely addictive cuteness.

Digital Revelation

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: X/TOKYO BABYLON
Pairing : Seishirou/Subaru and Subaru/Kamui
Author on LJ: katalyst
Author Website : http://www.katachresis.net/
Why this must be read:

This fic has such an unusual and interesting characterization of Subaru. I have never encountered anything like it, and was fascinated and yet repelled at the same time.

While reading it I felt almost upset at what he was doing, yet she wrote it in such a way that it was still in character and completely believable.

Subaru is a broken man, Seishirou saw to that, and Haunted gives us one interpretation of how this may have shaped Subaru. It is dark, depressing, powerful, and at times completely surprising; In other words much like the manga itself.

Please be warned: There is plenty of sex, some of which may be disturbing to some readers. It does have slight hints of non-con, and sexual manipulation.

Haunted

*note: when clicking on the link above it is necessary to select Fanfiction, then Tokyo Babylon/X to find the fic. Sorry but the scripting on her page will not allow direct linking to the TB/X fiction page, and the fic is a multiparter so I cannot link to it directly either.

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: X/TOKYO BABYLON
Pairing : none, characters - Subaru
Author on LJ: fuzzyserpent
Author Website : none
Why this must be read:

It is short but so beautiful, and really I don't use that word lightly. The imagery and atmosphere are amazing, and the story itself is almost lyrical in its writing style.

While reading this I got a real visceral sense of who Subaru is from a much underused POV. That in itself adds interest, and was so well done that this remains one of my favorite character pieces.

Under the Moonlight

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: TOKYO BABYLON
Pairing : Seishirou + Subaru
Author on LJ: tiamatschild
Author Website: none
Why this must be read:

This story is cute and so much fun. The atmosphere and character interaction reminds me of the first few books of Tokyo Babylon.

In a fandom full of so much angst this fic manages to capture the original light and fun feeling that is also part of Tokyo Babylon manga. The banter, jokes and dialog are so perfect and in character that I smiled the whole way through.

If someone is looking for a nice place to start in the Tokyo Babylon fandom, and does not want to be spoiled for the ending, then this is the story for them!

Little Red Car

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: CLAMP Campus Detectives
Pairing : Nokoru/Suoh (very little tiny bit!)
Author on LJ: sesame_seed
Author Website:
Why this must be read:

This is a character driven piece, it quiet but powerful. When I first read it I found myself thinking, 'yes exactly!' the whole way through. It just seemed so true to the characters -- especially Nokoru, and how they might interact as they grow older.

CCD is usually such a fun manga, and most of the fic for this fandom reflects that. But like all manga created by CLAMP it does have a certain darkness lurking underneath.

This fic captures that darkness without being angsty. It captures Nokoru's inner self and gives the reader an idea of what to expect when we see Nokoru, Suoh and, Akira again in X.

Simply wonderful!

Man on the Moon

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: X/TOKYO BABYLON
Pairing : Seishirou/Subaru
Author on LJ: inkpawprints
Author Website: Behold, the Void
Why this must be read:

In My Line of Work 2 is the sequel to In My Line of Work 1 which I recced earlier (you know I had to rec them both).

In My Line of Work 2 starts with the strange death of a controversial political figure. The investigation of this death leads the detectives to a certain handsome and dangerous man who made an appearance in In My Line of Work 1.

This fic is just as wonderful as the first, if not even better. We get a more extended view of the dark sexual tension between Subaru and Seishirou, yet it is still subtle and quietly done, just like in the manga.

The way Leareth tackles Seishirou and Subarau’s relationship is my favorite part of these fics. What she leaves unsaid makes the whole even sexier.

There are several areas in this fic that make me sigh with the singular pleasure that comes from reading a perfectly executed scene. There is definitely something to be said for a fic with no lemon scenes that none the less is still sexier than most fics with explicit sex.

( Here is a little snipit from the POV of Detective Kobayashi )

And here is the link: In My Line of Work 2

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: X/TOKYO BABYLON
Pairing : Seishirou/Subaru
Author on LJ: velvetpaws
Author Website: Firecat Fanfics
Why this must be read:

This fic is a long multipart work still in progress. However each chapter is so wonderfully done that it has never left me feeling as if I am missing the end. I want it to keep going!

The characterization of Subaru and Seishirou are right on. This is important when it comes to CLAMP fic as so much of it really does seem to miss the mark.

There is a nice mixture of romance and very steamy lemon scenes. Also Firecat’s Seishirou is probably the sexiest, yet scariest character I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

Definitely a must read fic for anyone interested in the TB/X fandom

Sakura and Snow

Fandom : CLAMP – SERIES: X/TOKYO BABYLON
Pairing : Seishirou/Subaru
Author on LJ: inkpawprints
Author Website: Behold, the Void
Why this must be read:

Leareth is a wonderful writer and I have enjoyed every fic she has ever written, but this piece is really exceptional.

In My Line of Work is actually a series of two fics. I will be recommending the first one at this time. The story is about three Tokyo detectives (well written original characters) attempting to solve a series of strange cases. The atmosphere is very reminiscent of Law and Order. Throughout the stories, the detectives’ investigations bring them into contact with characters from X (specifically Seishirou and Subaru).

In My Line of Work is one of those rare pieces that manage to use the perspective of outside characters to give the reader an ultimate insight into some of their own favorite characters. I honestly would recommend this fic to anyone who likes a good story. It does have shounen ai, but the dark romance between Seishirou and Subaru is caught so subtlety and wonderfully that even someone not interested in shounen ai might enjoy it. And the characterization is excellent!

Finally the link: In My Line of Work 1

Hello!

I will be running one of this month's Small Fandom supplements.

The fandom I will be in charge of is actually a collection of fandoms created by CLAMP.

For those not familiar with CLAMP I will give a small (ok it is long...) overview of who they are and what you can expect from their work and the work of their fans.

( Info about CLAMP )

Since many may be unfamiliar with the fandoms I will be making recommendations from I will give a short overview of a few of them. Please note I may REC from a CLAMP fandom that I was unable to provide an overview for, but most of the RECs will be from the fandoms listed bellow.

So here they are:
( Selected CLAMP fandom overviews )

And Finally...
( Links for archives and information )