As always, many many thanks to Meia, this time for putting up with my endless string of questions and new scenes over ICQ. This fic definitely wouldn't exist without it. Spoilers for all of Tokyo Babylon and (eventually) the infamous December Asuka of X. All characters belong to CLAMP.
Oh, and don't get weirded out by the second section. It's all explained (sort of).
Seishirou was feeling confident as he left the Sumeragi household. Yes, he was certain he would win this bet - not that there had ever been any doubt at all, especially with Subaru hardly remembering their first encounter.
He had one job to handle this evening, and he completed it with his usual quick, cold skill. Then, he returned to his apartment, and prepared for bed. Even deadly cold-blooded assassins need regular sleep.
~ * ~
He was in his office, completing paperwork, when Hokuto bounced in. "Yes, Hokuto-chan?" he asked, amiably.
"I'm getting married! Kakyou finally popped the question!"
"That's wonderful, Hokuto-chan," he said, sincerely. "When's the big day?"
She handed him a laviciously decorated envelope. "There's your invitation. You will be coming, right?"
He nodded.
"Because, you do know Subaru will be there?"
He nodded again. Of course Subaru would be there - it was his own sister's wedding.
"Sei-chan... You have forgiven him for marrying Mitsuki-san, right?"
"Yes, Hokuto, I've forgiven him..." How could he not, when he could hardly blame Subaru for ending their relationship before it had even properly began - as soon as he revealed who he really was, and why he had been living with them for the past year, Subaru had become even more withdrawn. Even though Seishirou swore he wasn't going to kill Subaru, nor his beloved sister, the trust was gone.
And it was ironic, because Subaru had won the bet without even trying. And he had taught Seishirou how to feel regret.
And jealousy, when he saw Subaru with Mitsuki. And loneliness, when Subaru wouldn't even speak to him. Perhaps that was partly because of Seishirou's refusal to attend the wedding, but that didn't stop it hurting.
And now Subaru was happily married, with two children whom Seishirou had never met, and probably never would.
Hokuto was looking at him critically. "Cheer up, Sei-chan," she said, smiling. "You'll find someone someday, I'm sure."
~ * ~
Seishirou rolled over in his sleep. "Dear god, no..." he muttered.
~ * ~
He was standing under the tree when Subaru arrived. The Sumeragi stopped and stared at him, shock written all over his face. "S-S-Seishirou-san!"
"Good afternoon, Subaru-kun," he said, casually leaning against the Sakura.
"Seishirou-san, what are you doing here?"
Seishirou didn't answer the question, instead posing one of his own. "Tell, me, Subaru-kun, do you remember this tree?"
Subaru was silent for a moment. "I think I do... there was a man, under it. He told me about corpses, buried beneath it..."
"Indeed, Subaru-kun. And do you remember the bet you made?"
"Bet... I made?" He frowned. "I remember the wind was loud, I couldn't hear..."
"'I will come live with you for a year. If by the end of that year I love you, I will not kill you. So, today, I'll let you go'," quoted Seishirou, taking his glasses off.
Subaru was staring at him. "Seishirou-san," he said, horrified, as the meaning set in.
The fight was pitifully short. He knelt beside his fallen victim and gently put his hands around the throat. It was easy to crush it, to feel the life, of the last head of the Sumeragi clan, bleed out beneath his hands.
He buried the body under the tree.
~ * ~
He rolled over again. "no..." he murmured, "that's not how it goes..."
~ * ~
He stood by the bedside, regarding the patient with a watchful eye. There was a maze of tubes connected to the still form lying in the stark white hospital bed, and a variety of machines that let out comforting beeps every now and then. Those wide, expressive eyes were closed, the black hair growing a little too long, the facial expression one of peaceful slumber.
"Really, Subaru... Don't you think it's a little melodramatic? It's been months."
The form in the bed did not respond.
"Have you checked on Hokuto recently? But no, I guess you would know automatically what happens to her. You were always extremely close, even for twins," he said, smiling.
The room was silent except for the sound of his own quiet breathing.
"I just killed your sister, and I still get no reaction? You wound me, Subaru-kun."
He regarded the Sumeragi thoughtfully. "I didn't think it was in your heart to just give up like this. I suppose it just goes to show that you never do completely know the person you love."
Not even the casual declaration of love had any effect on the still form of the boy who had once been full of so much innocent joy. Now all Seishirou felt from him was a dull, bitter silence.
Seishirou took off his glasses and placed them on the table beside Subaru's bed. He wouldn't be needing them any more, once he left here. The masquerade was over.
He sketched some wards and prepared to merge with the mind of the boy lying before him. The wards of protection around the Sumeragi's mind were simple enough to break.
He found himself standing beneath the Sakura. Subaru was nowhere to be seen. He tried calling the boy's name a few times. His voice echoed in the silence. The only movement he could sense was the gentle fall of sakura petals around him.
A memory surfaced in his own mind, unbidden. "I'm not letting you take him. I'm not letting you imprison him." Hokuto. Had she taken her brother with her when she died?
He left the Sumeragi lying there in his web of silence. After all, there was no point in killing someone whose heart was already gone.
~ * ~
He twisted under his sheets uneasily. "That's not right. Hokuto wouldn't do that... would she?"
~ * ~
Continued in part two.
It occurs to me that this chapter is sort of jerky and incoherent, but then, that's how most dreams are too.