In the Universe, with so many different solar systems entrapped in its web, what is the best way to find oneself? From the scope of your own planet, it's looking inside oneself, finding out what your heart's true desire is. Yet from the standpoint of the Universe, you'd need a map, and maybe a few directions. It's an incredible irony how when one does not know of the existence of another self, one always ponders what life would be like and how much better it must be, and yet when one does know of the existence of another self in another planet you suddenly find yourself finally grateful for the lot you have on your own. Thus how it started for one Sumeragi Subaru, completely oblivious to this knowledge as we speak, just visited by a group of travelers and a fluffy white…thing.

"Subaru!" Kamui barked out. Ever since his twin woke up from his coma he's been in a relative daze, and it was definitely starting to piss Kamui off. "What are you just standing there for?! We've got things to do!"

Subaru glanced up lazily from a fallen chunk of cement he was sitting on. Ever since he'd woken up from his coma, all that Kamui has been talking about lately was 'escape, escape, God damn I hate Fuuma!' or some conjunction of the phrases. It had now been a few weeks since meeting the nice girl Sakura and her group, and though no one has visited them (other than Fuuma) since their arrival, Kamui took it as an omen that he would be coming soon.

"Kamui…I hate to be a bother but, where would we go?"

At this Kamui shot him the 'are you an idiot?' look and stormed off to go pile away more stuff. Kakyou seemed to understand and came and sat next to him. "You know Subaru-kun, I know your brother might seem a bit harsh now, but he really just wants to protect you is all."

Subaru nodded slightly. "Yes, I know he's worried about Seishirou-san coming."

In the silence that followed, both men seemed to hear the words Subaru refused to speak, 'but I'm not.' It was common knowledge to anyone who stayed with Kamui that he hated Seishirou for taking his brother's attention away and chose to blame everything terrible in Subaru's life on him. It was also common knowledge that Subaru was not stupid, and chose carefully when he allowed Seishirou to take some of his blood. Since Subaru seemed to be the more emotionally stable one of the two, they knew he did not take lightly that decision, and that there was definitely a solid, good reason behind it. Kakyou was just about to comment on this when sounds of a ruckus started emitting themselves by the bridge.

"So, he's here" Kakyou said, a small grin forming on his lips.

"Yes" Subaru said, shaking his head slightly as they headed in the direction of the noise.

~*~

"Damn you Fuuma you good for nothing piece of shit! How many times do I have to tell you to GO AWAY" Kamui huffed in the direction of the smirking brunette.

"Oh, Kamui" Fuuma stated with a devilish grin on his face. "You know I can't go longer than one week without seeing your beautiful face." Finishing this statement, Fuuma reached out his arm in a parody of stroking his cheek, only to have Kamui grab his hand and twist it sharply behind his back.

"Oh Kamui, in public!" Fuuma stated with a simultaneous grin and grimace on his face. It seemed Kaumi's crew could never go one week without seeing Fuuma, and regardless of what Kamui said, they had a sense that it was fun for both of the involved parties, since it was always routine. First, Fuuma would come and tease Kamui. Kamui would then proceed to curb stomp Fuuma, all the while Fuuma continues to tease. After about 10 minutes one or the other would get tired and Kamui would feign disgust and huff right back into his section of Tokyo. It never failed. You could set a clock by these guys.

When Kamui finally sauntered back towards Subaru and the rest of the gang, he seemed less uptight and more relaxed. "Okay everyone" Kamui said lightly. "Tomorrow we continue with the preparations."

Subaru and Kakyou exchanged identical grins before heading off to their own rooms, finding a calm security as well as humor in their day to day life.

~*~

Three weeks had gone by and no Fuuma, and by this time Subaru had begun to worry. For the first week, Kamui shrugged it off, figuring Fuuma finally learned his lesson; by the second week, Kamui had grown more and more irritated; now Kamui began eyeing the walls if he felt they looked at him the wrong way. It was not only Kamui's mood that worried Subaru however, it was the fact that Fuuma hadn't arrived at all. Although on the outside it seemed Fuuma came just to play, there was much more involved. Fuuma was scanning to see what Kamui was scheming, and to see if there was anything else to pillage in Tokyo for his supplies. It was very rare to see him not come one week, and he had never skipped two weeks completely.

"I wonder what's keeping him" Subaru said aloud one day as everyone was gathered next to the water supply.

Kamui scowled. "I don't know, but I think he's plotting something, definitely plotting something."

Although their reasons for this belief differed, Subaru had to agree with Kamui.

"So…what do we do now?" Satsuki asked from behind dirtied glasses. A bout of manly laughter had everyone turning.

"Why of course, we should do some investigating. Besides, he's always over here." Yuto said with a smile. Surprisingly, everyone in the group seemed to consider it.

"I…I think we should do it." Kamui said a little hesitantly, then more strongly. "That's it gang. Grab your stuff; we're going to find Fuuma!"

~*~

Amidst the cheering and laughter, it was easy to forget that they were on a mission. In fact, the mood remained lighthearted until they reached Fuuma's 'front door step'. The structure was enormous, and when they walked inside they could hear their shoes echoing off the ancient walls. Subaru cringed as they entered further into the darkness and was grateful that Yuto brought a lamp.

Walking down further, Kamui spotted stairs that headed downwards. Each member followed it closely, with everyone huddled around the tiny Kazuki until they finally entered the dimly lighted expanse of space.

"Alright" Kamui ordered, tightening his robe around himself. "Everyone begin searching, and make sure your radios are on." Once everyone checked that, they headed off on their own, with only Nataku and Kazuki paired together. Though it was humid on the floor of the building, Subaru assumed it was a basement of sorts; he kept tightening his robe, the dark, empty atmosphere sending chills up his spine.

When he finally reached the end of the long tunnel he was walking on, he exhaled slightly as he turned to head back to the main room, only to be spooked by a sound.

"Subaru! Subaru are you okay?" Kamui's voice was slightly muffled through the walkie-talkie.

"Yes, yes; I'm alright." Subaru stated quietly into it. "I'm in an abandoned hallway but I'll be heading back to the main building." Releasing the talk button, Subaru once again looked up to begin walking when a hand lightly placed itself on his shoulder.

"Hello again, Subaru-kun."

TBC. Evil smirk. So the next chapter shall be up in the next few days.