Author's Note: I'm in a pissy mood, so you're all getting a treat. A new SeixSu lemon. And dear Mrs. James…up yours with love, bitch.
Warning: Author is bitchy. Don't mess. Oh, and some OOC moments, smut (in a later chapter), and gods know what else my twisted psyche comes up with.
Disclaimer: If I owned them, Seishirou would have gotten into Subaru's pants a lot sooner. I mean, come on. You just know that they're fucking each other on the sidelines in X. Don't deny it.
Part One: Laundry
The younger man stood in front of the dryer, wearing nothing but a pair of dark green boxers and an over-sized white t-shirt. He pulled out a pair of black denim jeans and folded them neatly, not acknowledging the presence of the man who was watching him. As he folded more laundry, Sakurazuka Seishirou looked him over. Sumeragi Subaru was, indeed, a very beautiful young man.
His hair was growing long; over-due for a haircut. The jet-black bangs fell into Subaru's striking, emerald-colored eyes. His legs were smooth and long. The Sumeragi was, in a word, a masterpiece. And he was also one of Seishirou's favorite playthings.
"I'm curious," Subaru said, speaking up suddenly, "as to why the Sakurazukamori has nothing better to do on a Saturday morning than to stand in my apartment, hiding in an illusion, and watching me fold my laundry."
Seishirou smiled. His Subaru-kun was indeed, perceptive. He dropped his illusion; there was no point in keeping it up if Subaru knew he was there. He approached the younger man, who ignored him.
"So, are you going to answer my curiosity?" Subaru asked. "Or are you just going to stand there?"
Seishirou shrugged. "I thought I would just stand here."
The Sumeragi pulled another pair of jeans out of the dryer and threw them at Seishirou. The pants landed on Seishirou's head. "Make yourself useful."
Seishirou blinked. He took a hold of the jeans and folded them meticulously. Then, he added them to the pile of jeans that Subaru had finished. Within minutes, the two of them finished folding Subaru's laundry. Subaru put the clothes into his bedroom and came out a few minutes later, fully dressed in black jeans and a short sleeved, high-necked t-shirt. Seishirou smirked. Subaru really knew how to dress.
"Would you like some tea, Seishirou-san?" the younger man asked, heading to the kitchen of his small apartment.
"I would," Seishirou confirmed, sitting at the table in the small dining room.
Subaru went about making the tea, which wasn't too difficult; just put two mugs of water in the microwave with tea bags and nuke them for a minute. He took them out when the microwave beeped and handed one of them to the older man. He sat down opposite Seishirou and looked at him.
"So, is there some reason you came here?" Subaru asked. "Bored again?"
"I just felt like seeing you," Seishirou replied, taking a sip of the tea. The hot liquid slid down his throat, warming his body. "I didn't really intend to stay long, but since you figured I was here, I thought I'd stay longer."
"Uh-huh," Subaru said in mild disbelief.
Seishirou took another sip of his tea. "It looks like you're doing well."
"About as good as one can expect," Subaru told him. "I've been busy with work lately and Obaa-chan is worried that I'm working a little too hard."
"Well, it's not like you're the only one in the clan that can do these jobs," Seishirou said. "Why don't you relax a little?"
Subaru shrugged. He set his mug on the table surface, keeping his hands wrapped around the ceramic piece. He looked down at his tea, watching his reflection.
"Are you busy tonight?"
"Huh?" Subaru asked, looking up sharply at the other man.
"I was thinking I could take you to dinner, perhaps?" Seishirou offered.
The Sumeragi blinked at his opposite. He suspected something. Dinner? With him? Seishirou must have an ulterior motive. Nothing Seishirou ever did came without an ulterior motive.
"Ano…" Subaru hesitated. "I…I think…that would be okay."
"Good," Seishirou said, standing up. "I'll pick you up around five, then?"
Subaru blinked. "O-okay."
Seishirou headed towards the front door, where his shoes were. He slipped them on and opened the door. He turned to the younger man and gave him a smile.
"I'll see you tonight, then, Subaru-kun."
With that, Seishirou left. The door closed behind him. Subaru sat there, and took a sip of his tea. As he swallowed, he absently wondered what he had gotten himself into. He stood up and headed to the door. He had some work to do before he could even think of going to dinner with Seishirou. Grabbing his jacket and putting on his boots, Subaru headed outside.
The door to the house opened. The woman looked at Subaru with thankful blue eyes. Her dark hair was pulled up in a simple bun and she wore a traditional, pale-blue kimono.
"Kumomoto Kaede-san?" Subaru asked.
"Hai," the woman said. "Thank you for coming, Sumeragi-sama. I'm sorry to have called you out like this, but I'm getting desperate. Please come in."
"Thank you," Subaru said. He stepped into the house and toed off his boots.
Kaede led Subaru through her house to a room out looking the backyard. A teenage girl sat at the windowsill, staring out at the beautiful maple tree in the yard. Subaru looked at her.
"She's been like that for three days," Kaede said. "She won't look at anyone, won't speak, and she doesn't move at all."
Subaru nodded. "What is her name?"
"Kirika," Kaede said. "Akizuki Kirika."
"She's not of your family?"
"She's my cousin's daughter."
Subaru looked at Kirika again. She was dressed in a violet kimono with small silver butterflies embroidered near the hem. The girl's hair was tied in a partial bun, the rest of it flowing loosely in the slight breeze coming in through the open window. Her gray eyes were dull and not blinking.
She's Within herself, Subaru realized.
"I would like to have you stand outside the room, please," he told Kaede.
Kaede bowed politely. "Hai."
She left the room silently. Subaru walked over to Kirika and picked her up, moving her to the bed in the room. He lay her down gently, and then brought the chair she had been sitting in previously over next to the bed and sat down. Positioning his hands on either side of Kirika's head, he began to chant.
"Nobou akyasha kyarabaya on arikya maribori sowaka."
Subaru repeated these words as he entered Kirika's consciousness. He came across little resistance. When he reached her first level of consciousness, Subaru looked around. There were maple trees and rhododendrons scattered here and there, with a wide stream circumnavigating around the plants. The air carried the scent of the plants and also, strangely, a minty scent. The Sumeragi vaguely wondered what the scent meant.
Walking along the streams edge, Subaru searched for Kirika. However, this level of consciousness was empty. He reached the barrier to the next level of Kirika's heart. With a short spell, Subaru shattered the barrier. A cold wind blasted into his face, making his eyes sting. A sobbing voice was carried by the wind through the snowy Innerscape.
"Kirika-san?" Subaru called.
"Go away!" the voice responded. "Leave me alone!"
"Kirika-san, please! Where are you?"
"Go away!"
Subaru walked forward and shortly found the source of the crying voice. Akizuki Kirika sat beneath a snow-covered maple tree. Her knees were drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them. She had her face buried in her arms. Subaru could hear her sobs, though they were muffled.
"Kirika-san?" Subaru asked.
The girl lifted her head and looked at Subaru. The tears that slid down her face were not normal tears; they were tears of blood. Subaru knelt down beside Kirika.
"Who are you?" the girl asked. "How…how did you…?"
"My name is Sumeragi Subaru. I'm an onmyouji. Your guardian, Kaede-san, asked me to help you."
"Why?" Kirika sniffled. "Why can't everyone just leave me alone?"
"Because they care about you, Kirika-san," Subaru told her. He reached out and took the teenage girl's hand. "Why are you hiding in here?"
Kirika took her free hand and wiped away her bloody tears. "I can't…I can't stay out there anymore."
"Why not?"
"She'll die," Kirika said, forcing herself to keep from crying. "Kaede will die."
Subaru gave a slight alarmed look. "What do you mean?"
"They're dead…" Kirika muttered, burying her face once more. "They all died…"
Flame suddenly consumed the Innerscape. They surrounded Subaru and Kirika, melting the snow around them. Screams filled the air, both male and female, young and old. Subaru looked around him. Silhouettes of five people moved wildly, as though in agonizing pain.
"Okaa-san…Otou-san…" Kirika muttered. "Kanae…Shiori…Obaa-chan…They're all dead…"
"Kirika!" Subaru shouted as the crackling of flames and the screams grew louder. "Listen to me!"
"They're dead…They're gone…"
"Kirika!" Subaru forced the girl to look at him. His green eyes met her steel-gray ones. "Kirika, listen to me! You have to come back out into the real world."
"No! I won't let Kaede die!"
"She won't die, Kirika," Subaru told her.
"Yes, she will!" Kirika insisted. "Everyone will die! They'll all leave me!"
"Kirika, I swear to you, Kaede-san will not die."
Kirika looked at Subaru. "You give me your word?"
"I give you my word," Subaru promised. "But you have to come out for me to keep my word."
The girl was silent for a few moments as the fire died down. Then, she looked into Subaru's eyes. "Okay. I'll come out."
Subaru nodded. Together, they left Kirika's consciousness.
When Subaru got home, he was tired. It was four o'clock. Seishirou would be there in an hour. That gave Subaru time to shower and find something to wear for dinner. So, he went into the bathroom, stripped down, and climbed into the shower after turning the water on. He rinsed his body off, scrubbed up and down, and washed his hair. When he was finished, he got out and wrapped a towel around his waist.
Going into his bedroom, Subaru began to think of what he could wear to dinner. He didn't think he owned anything that nice and prayed that Seishirou didn't take him somewhere fancy. Finding the nicest clothes he owned, a pair of slacks and a nice black turtleneck, Subaru got dried off and dressed. He was just running a comb through his hair when the doorbell rang.
Seishirou was standing outside the door with at least a dozen roses in his arms. The older man himself was dressed in black slacks and a black silk shirt. His sunglasses were not on and the Sumeragi could see his eyes. Subaru had to admit it; Seishirou looked good.
"Komban wa, Subaru-kun," Seishirou said with a smile.
"Komban wa," Subaru replied. He gave a grin of his own. "Look at you. You do own something other than a suit."
"Miracle, isn't it?" Seishirou asked, sarcastically.
He handed the roses to Subaru. Subaru took them in his arms. They were perfect; a deep red color and just beginning to bloom. And they smelled wonderful.
"Come in, Seishirou-san," Subaru said. "You can have a seat while I do something with these.
Seishirou nodded and stepped inside the apartment. Subaru disappeared into the kitchen and pulled out a vase. It was made of green glass and hade a pentacle carved into it. It was one of the few things that had belonged to Hokuto that Subaru had kept over the years. He carefully put the roses into the vase and filled it with water.
"So," Seishirou said as Subaru came out of the kitchen. "Shall we go?"
"Sure," Subaru replied, pulling on his shoes.
Seishirou took Subaru by the arm and led him down to the parking lot of the apartment complex, where his car waited. He opened the passenger side door and let Subaru get into the car before getting in himself. He started the car and drove out of the parking lot. Subaru felt a nervous chill run his spine. What was he doing going to dinner with the man he hated, the man who had broken his heart, killed his sister, and ruined his life?
"I was thinking Italian for dinner," Seishirou said as he drove. "What do you think, Subaru-kun?"
"That sounds fine," Subaru replied.
The truth was, even though Seishirou had done nearly everything to make Subaru's life miserable, the Sumeragi still loved him. Despite the torture, the pain, and the guilt, Subaru could not help loving the older man. Sakurazuka Seishirou meant the world to Sumeragi Subaru and always would.
The drive to the restaurant was quiet after that. Seishirou seemed to be more interested in being in Subaru's presence than actually talking to him. That was perfectly fine with the younger man. There really wasn't much to talk about anyway.
Seishirou pulled into the parking lot at the restaurant, parked and got out of the car. He walked around to open the door for the younger man, but Subaru was already getting out of the car. The Sumeragi stood and let the other man lead him into the restaurant. A young woman inside led them to a booth on the west side of the eatery and handed them menus.
Seishirou looked over the menu. Arcadia was a relatively new restaurant and this would be his first time eating there. In a few short minutes, he decided up on the Fettuccini Alfredo. He waited for Subaru to decide, and then called over the waitress. The young woman took their orders, asking if they wanted anything to drink.
"I think some red wine," Seishirou said. "What about you, Subaru-kun?"
"Um…same," Subaru replied, hesitantly.
The waitress nodded and left. Seishirou looked at Subaru as the two of them waited. He gave the younger man a smile.
"So, how was your day?" he asked. "I hear you had some work to do."
Subaru absently wondered how Seishirou had known he had to work. Then he remembered what Seishirou did almost all day: spy on him.
"Yes, I did," Subaru said.
"How did it go?"
"It went well," Subaru replied.
"That's good," Seishirou said. "I would hate it if something bad happened to my Subaru-kun."
"Seishirou-san, we're in a restaurant," Subaru told him.
"So I've noticed."
The waitress came over with the wine and two glasses. She poured wine into each of them and set one in front of both men. Subaru thanked her quietly. The young woman merely gave him a smile and small nod, and then walked away, leaving the bottle of wine at the table. Seishirou lifted his glass and took an experimental taste of the dark crimson beverage.
"Delectable," he said.
Subaru took a sip of his wine and winced as he swallowed. As he was fairly inexperienced with wine, the taste caught him off-guard and he choked slightly after he swallowed. He set his glass down on the table and folded his hands in his lap. Seishirou chuckled at him.
"Not much of a wine person, Subaru-kun?" he asked.
"Not particularly," the younger man responded.
A few more minutes passed. The waitress came by again, this time with their food. She set the fettuccini in front of Seishirou and a plate of steamy tortellini in front of Subaru. She also left a small basket of breadsticks at the table.
"Enjoy your meal," she told them with a smile. "If you need anything, just call for me."
Seishirou nodded and thanked her. The waitress left and headed to seat a family that had just come into the restaurant. Subaru picked up his fork and took a bite of the tortellini. The rich taste of the mushroom-filled pasta covered with olive oil and parmesan filled his mouth. He had to admit, it was delicious. Subaru took another sip of his wine to wash it down.
Neither man talked much during the course of the meal. By the time they were both done, Subaru felt a bit tipsy. He realized that he had drunken at least two glasses of wine, which was probably not good. He knew he didn't have a very high tolerance for alcohol. Seishirou looked at the younger man with a slight bit of worry in his eyes.
"Are you okay, Subaru-kun?" he asked.
Subaru waved him off. "Yeah. I think I'm fine."
"You're sure?"
Subaru nodded. Seishirou took out his wallet and left a few bills on the table, enough to pay for the meal and cover a tip for the waitress. Then, he stood up and went over to Subaru. He offered the younger man his hand to help him up. Subaru took it and stood carefully.
"I think I should get home," he told Seishirou, feeling dizzy.
"I think you had too much wine," Seishirou replied. "Why didn't you tell me you had a low alcohol tolerance?"
"I don't drink that often," Subaru said. "I didn't…think about it."
"Well, let's get you home."
Subaru nodded. Seishirou lead him outside and to the car. He helped Subaru get in and then started the car. They were about half-way to Subaru's apartment when the younger man passed out. Seishirou took them to the apartment complex, parked, got out and then took Subaru out of the car and carried him up to the apartment. He went through Subaru's pockets, pulled out the key and unlocked the door.
Seishirou carried Subaru through the apartment and to the bedroom, where he gently lay Subaru down on the bed. He pulled off Subaru's shoes and clothes, leaving the younger man in his boxers, and covered him with the blankets. Then, he leaned down and kissed the Sumeragi's forehead and left the room. He contemplated leaving the apartment altogether, but decided to stay, in case Subaru wound up sick. Going into the living room, Seishirou pulled off his trenchcoat and curled up in the armchair. He covered himself with his coat and closed his eyes.
Author's Note: And thus ends the first installment. Part two coming up VERY quickly.