Disclaimer: Owned by Clamp.
Author's note: Some flashbacks in the mix.
MAKE SURE TO RE-READ PREVIOUS CHAPTERS! There has been changes.
Chapter 2: Of Smoke and Blood
Shick. Clink. Shick. Clink.
The repetitive sounds of the metal lighter filled the silence with each flick of the thumb. The room was dark and smelled of old smoke and dust. The furnishing was sparse in the small apartment. There was a bed, a phone, and a chair in the main room with an empty kitchenette to the left and a small bathroom to the right with a utility closet beside it.
In the lone chair sat a slouched figure. The lighter in one hand and an unlit cigarette in the other limp one. The figure in the chair was tall and male, dressed darkly the man seemed to blend with the darkness around him. The illusion was more complete with the thick black coat draped over him like a death veil.
Shick. Clink. Shick. Clink.
In the bed laid another male. This figure was smaller and emaciated with an incredible beauty that gave him a frail splendor. He appeared naked beneath the covers where beside the bed was a stained white robe left crumpled on the floor.
Shick. Clink. Shick. Clink.
The lighter snapped shut one last time.
Subaru studied Kamui in his feverish sleep. He looked over Kamui's features; at every change age has altered. Kamui was a few inches taller but he grew no broader than before. His hair was much longer now; Subaru figured it was left uncut because of Kamui's hysterias. Kamui's cheekbones were more prominent from his failing health; his eyes had dark circles beneath them.
Subaru's grip tightened on his lighter, the cigarette crumpled between his fingers, sliced in two. He relaxed his hands once more, dropping the cigarette to rub at his eyes. He fell back against the chair sighing faintly.
Subaru never realized how far Kamui had fallen. He stared at the ceiling his thumb flicking the lighter open once more and closing it. He lifted the silver object before his eyes. A smile ghosted his lips as he read the inscription, Happy Birthday Subaru, From Kamui.
"Happy birthday Subaru," Kamui greeted meekly. He came around Subaru's vision, his body quivering with nervous energy. He had his hands clutched around his satchel. His eyes kept shifting everywhere but on Subaru.
Subaru looked at the boy a cigarette in his hand. He blinked slowly. "Kamui," he said in way of greeting. He motioned to the empty bench in front of him, "How did you know today was my birthday?"
Kamui sat down carefully, still holding his school bag protectively across his chest. He finally looked at Subaru but quickly turned his gaze to the table. "Nokoru-sama told us about a week ago. He always seems to know things he shouldn't," Kamui answered, then muttered under his breath, "He even knew my birthday."
Subaru snuffed out his cigarette in an ashtray on the table, "I must not have been a part of the conversation when he was sharing personal information." He stared out of the gazebo, watching the smoke fade away.
Kamui shifted anxiously, "I figured he just wanted us to be closer… as- as a team. I, uh, got you a present." He squeezed the satchel tighter to his chest.
Subaru looked back at Kamui, "You didn't need to, Kamui."
"I know… but I wanted to… and… um here!" Kamui pulled out a small wrapped box, pushing it towards Subaru.
Subaru stared at the gift as though it were some otherworldly being. The concept of gift giving seemed foreign to him. He looked at Kamui with his flushed face and felt a strange flutter in his chest. He slowly took the box in his hand, looking at the simple white wrapping. He carefully unwrapped the box and lifted the lid revealing the silver lighter. Subaru took the lighter out and read the inscription on the side, Happy Birthday Subaru, From Kamui. Subaru again felt that strange flutter in his chest. He looked up at Kamui who watched him anxiously. Subaru said what was expected of him, "Thank you Kamui."
Subaru place the lighter into his pocket and said nothing more. He did not seem to notice the dismay clouding Kamui's face. Subaru startled when Kamui suddenly stood up with his head bow, "Kamui?"
"I got to go," Kamui walked swiftly out of sight.
Subaru frowned. He thought Kamui's voice sounded strained. He turned back to the table and frowned further in confusion as he saw dark spots on the surface.
Subaru pulled out the lighter, reading the inscription again. He took out a cigarette and lit it. His only company was the smoke filling the air.
Subaru frowned darkly, staring at Kamui's gift.
I got to go…
The words faded in his thoughts along with the image of the heartbroken boy. Subaru rubbed his head. This was not the first time he had hurt Kamui. Subaru was ashamed of his weakness, ashamed at his fear of Kamui's feelings. He was ashamed of his fear for his own feelings. Subaru's ultimate failing was betraying his own feelings and seeking the easy way out.
Subaru trembled from adrenaline and horror. His hand was wet and hot with blood, Seishiro's blood. Subaru's eyes felt tight. His entire focus centered on Seishiro, the full weight of him against his body, the burning heat of his life spilling over him. He watched uncomprehendingly as Seishiro's mouth moved closed to his ear. The roaring in his ears muffled Seishiro's final words.
This was all wrong. This was not supposed to happen. He was supposed to die. Why was he alive and Seishiro dead. Why? Why? Why?
The world is full of the cruelest ironies.
Yes… The world is full of the cruelest ironies.
Kamui learned that lesson better than anyone. The boy that was meant to die by all the signs of fate and yet, it was the other who yielded to death. Subaru remembered Kamui telling him of Fuuma's promise to always protect him. Fuuma kept his word in the end.
A whimper pulled Subaru from his reverie. He pulled himself upright to his feet, moving to Kamui as he tossed and turned in his sleep. Subaru touched the back of his hand to Kamui's forehead, feeling the fevered flesh. Subaru frowned and went to the kitchenette. He pulled open cabinets until he found his single set of dishes. He pulled out the one glass, rinsing it thoroughly before filling it with cold water. He returned to Kamui lifting his head gently as he slowly poured water down his throat. Kamui swallowed sluggishly, water dripping down his chin. Subaru wiped the trails with his thumb. He left once more to the bathroom, pulling out a washcloth from the bottom cabinet of the sink. He soaked it with cold water, wringing it out he returned and placed it on Kamui's brow.
Kamui fidgeted but settled down as the cold touch brought comfort from the heat. Subaru watched briefly before returning to his chair and continued his vigil. He would need to move Kamui soon to Kyoto. Subaru rose once more to the phone, picking up the handset he dialed the estate. He waited for the other line to pick up.
Click. "Sumeragi estate, who is calling?" asked a woman's voice.
"Sumeragi Subaru. I need to speak with the matriarch."
There was a silence. "One moment please."
Subaru waited several minutes before the line clicked once more. "Subaru?"
"Good evening, grandmother. I am sorry to wake you so late."
"I was awake already. Is everything all right Subaru?" She wasted no time getting to the matter.
"It will take longer for me to return with Kamui than was anticipated. There was an incident when I went to retrieve him."
"What incident? Subaru tell me everything."
The matriarch of the Sumeragi clan sat in her room in grieving silence. Her grandchildren were dead. She blinked watery eyes slowly, her face appearing more sunken in her sorrow. How much more tragedy must befall her family? What other horrors yet await the Sumeragi clan? She could not see a future for the clan. The most powerful among them is gone.
She watched the night garden out of her door, the moonlight dim from the cover of clouds. Time lost all meaning to her. Days melted into weeks until six months have passed. She remembered vaguely being told the Promised Day had passed and since she was still alive and her grandchildren were not meant that the Dragons of Heaven won. She was told that the Dragons of Heaven's Kamui was mentally incapacitated and now under the care of Imonoyama Nokoru. She merely nodded; the news did not halt her mourning. The clan has to fend for itself now she would not be here forever.
She changed her routine by grieving out in the garden instead of staring at it blankly. She listened to the tap of the bamboo fount as it slapped the stone to release its load. She thought she heard the flap of cloth but merely shrugged it off as part of her imagination.
"Grandmother."
She lifted her head in startlement. She twisted around in her chair to behold her grandson, "Subaru!"
Subaru walked around to her; bending on one knee he took her hands in his own. He was dressed all in black; his hair had grown out reminiscent to his appearance as a teenager. The most startling change of all was his eyes. One green and one honey eye stared into her eyes.
"Subaru… Your eyes? What has happened to you?" She pulled out her hands to touch his face.
Subaru stared at her for a long time with those strange, unfamiliar eyes. He was paler than she has ever seen him. Subaru was as pale as death.
"I am the Sakurazukamori now. I have killed the previous one and became his successor."
She gasped in horror, shaking her head in disbelief, "No, no, Subaru there must be a way out of this. You cannot be the Sakurazukamori, what on earth would this mean for the future of this clan? What would this mean for your future?"
"There is no future for me. I am bound to this role in ways you can never imagine. As for the future of this clan, I will remain as the Head until I can find an appropriate successor."
Subaru's frankness was painful to her aching heart. She felt a change in him, he did not feel… human anymore. The force of his gaze kept her from asking what she so dearly wished to ask. She felt tears falling unbidden.
"Grandmother, there is something I must ask of you."
She blinked slowly and met her grandson's gaze, "What do you need Subaru?"
"Have you heard of the Dragons of Heaven since the Promised Day?"
She had to think for several moments before recalling any knowledge on the subject. She nodded. "Yes, that Kamui of the Dragons of Heaven has fallen into a malaise. Any attempt to restore his mind has failed, and keeping him calm has become an increasing task for Imonoyama."
Subaru's gaze grew more intense, he stood and stared down at her, "I need you to isolate a wing of the house and prepare it for hospice care. I will need a new staff of servants and trained nurses for this wing alone. You will contact Imonoyama-sama and tell him you shall take over in caring for Kamui. His room shall be connected to mine. No one but the new staff is permitted admittance into this wing of the house."
She sorted through everything Subaru demanded of her, "Why do you wish to move Kamui to Kyoto?"
"He cannot stay in Tokyo. It is just a constant reminder of his pain. If he stays there he will never recover. Kyoto is unfamiliar ground to him. I will be working to restore his mind just as I have done in the past."
She stared hard at Subaru, trying to understand this man before her now. This man has a purpose, she no longer saw the man with the concealed desire for death. She bowed her head, "Very well Subaru. I shall do as you say." She still had niggling feeling that something was terribly wrong with Subaru but she could not grasp it.
She closed her eyes, feeling the tears drying on her withered face. When she opened her eyes again Subaru was gone.
Subaru hung up the phone. The sound of rustling caught his attention, turning around he saw Kamui thrashing in his sleep.
"Subaru… please… don't go… don't go…," Kamui murmured, tears trickled from his closed eyes, "I… I need you…"
Subaru's lips tighten. He settled beside Kamui, picking up the dropped washcloth. Subaru gently brushed back the damp hair from Kamui's face. He leaned forward, "I am sorry Kamui… I won't leave you ever again."
His eyes drifted to Kamui's hands clutching the sheets tight, they were no longer bandaged since the dressing was soiled. On the pale flesh was the bright red mark where Kamui had stabbed his hands over the old scars. Before his gaze the outline of the five point star burned in blood. Subaru's hands clenched into fists as he stared at the bloody brands.
