Disclaimer - I don't own either the City With No People books, or the characters. In short, everything belongs to CLAMP. Except the situation, and me. Well... other than the microchip CLAMP planted in my head. . .
A City With No People.
Bookshops weren't usually his thing, but this was a new one, and looked quite promising. Old, but new. In a bizzare kind of way. Also, it stocked... unusual books. Onmyouji texts, and books from other cultures. They had picture books stacked right next to ancient Buddhist texts. They put the Qu'ran right next to the Christian Bible. Strange place.
It had a distinctly English air to it, too. As Subaru pushed the door open, it gave a loud tinkle, and he stood still as he let the dust settle. Looking around nervously, feeling like he was standing under a spotlight, for no reason. Moving across the store, towards the 'Myth, Urban Legends and Modern World Religion' section, he had to wonder whose idea it was to categorise religion with myths.
Absently flicking dust from an old, musty tome entitled 'Commone ailments of the bones' and smiling faintly as he turned the page, scanning for the year of publishing. 1701 A.D. Then something caught his eye, to his right.
Of course, it would be a picture book. But there was something about the dark-coloured cover that made him wonder if this was a normal picture book. Stepping to the side, Subaru picked it up, scruntinising the cover.
A City With No People.
A strange name for a children's picture book. Still... there was something that drew Subaru to the book. Flicking open to the first page, he started to read, slowly.
In this city...
...There are no people.
The lights are on in all the houses,
But, there is nobody on the streets.
Are there people inside? I peek in a window to find out.
There are people,
But they are with "them".
This book was creepy. Very, very creepy. Subaru didn't like it. But still, he had to keep reading. Something was pulling him. Perhaps it was the way he was drawn to the tragic nature of the book, with it's strange pictures. Manga-style, bunny-rabbit main characters weren't to his usual taste in books, but this one was... special.
I look in other houses,
These people are with "Them" too.
This city is just like all the rest.
Being with "Them" is fun,
More fun than being with people.
Nobody comes outside anymore,
There are no people in this city.
I will leave this city and go to another one,
I hope that I will meet someone,
Someone just for me.
Subaru's hands were shaking as he pause in his reading of the picture book, setting it down on the pile again. But something caught his eye. The next one. What? This entire stack was these creepy books. He should leave now. Just leave the book half-finished and leave.
The door opened with a tinkle, but Subaru was still staring avidly at the open book, his eyes tracing the thick lines of the rabbit-character. Then a hand touched his shoulder. Before he could react, another crept around his waist. A thrilling, seductive voice whispered in his ear, delicately.
"...? A picture book, Subaru-kun? But then..." The hand on his shoulder crept down, pressing against the arm of the Sumeragi, who seemed to have frozen. A pale hand reached out, and traced the black writing bubbles. The lips brushing the side of his ear formed the worlds written slowly, "...I hope that I will meet someone... Someone just for me..." A derisive smile, and he turned his head slightly, a gentle tongue flicked out and brushed his ear. "...A person just for you?"
That was too much. Breaking away from the other man, Subaru bolted for the door. The other man let him go, satisfied. Smiling coldly, Seishirou looked back at the picture book, turning the page.
Seishirou Sakurazuka's smile vanished.
But if that special someone falls in love with me...
...I will have to leave that someone.
Even so, I want to meet that special person.
This is what I think as I leave the City with No People.
This book was creepy. Very, very creepy. Seishirou didn't like it. Closing the book and dropping it on the pile, he stared resolutely at the boring, plain, slightly gothic cover. He felt rather hot under the collar. Why was some stupid picture book affecting him so much? Just a stupid book. Staring stupidly at the collar, he thought back to the events of a few moments before.
Subaru-kun seemed fazed, almost frozen when Seishirou's arms had crept around him. Interesting, that was. A person just for me, hm? And... what was it? ...If that special someone falls in love with me... Interesting book. Even if it was a picture book.
Staring absently at the book, he pushed it to one side, and picked up the next volume. A soft smile lit up the Sakurazukamori's face, and he nodded slowly, hatching a brilliant, albeit cynical plan.
Yes, he thought, as he fingered the edge of the paper absently, it would work. It might work a little too well. But still... it wasn't possible to have too much of some good things. Especially this good thing. Subaru had seen the books, so maybe... but no. That would make it work all the better.
Picking up the first four volumes of the City With No People books, Seishirou took them to the counter, buying them with no fuss as the smile spread across his face.
This was going to be perfect.