Hey all! I finally got around to updating! Yay! Rejoice (not really) for it.
Reviewers Response:
Chibi Moko-chan: Did you miss the time when I finally confessed to my SubSei fangirlism?
Zuzanny: Here's your update!
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
Subaru swung the door open to the apartment that was now his and Seishirou's. The apartment was simple and somewhat small. From the front door were a kitchen with a refrigerator, stove/oven, and a sink with a cabinet. It was connected to the living area that was completely bare. To the left was a miniature hall where the bathroom and bedroom were located.
"Too small?" the omyouji shook his head, "Much less cleaning for me."
A passion-filled quick kiss was placed on Subaru's lips, "I'll leave the rest to you. We'll meeting in Ebisu Garden at 16:30."
Not sufficiently satisfied, the assassin put his husband against the wall and crashed his lips against the younger. Then he kissed along his neck while Subaru let out a soft moan. Seishirou may not have killed Subaru but he was still his prey.
Subaru opted to wear a green-collar shirt with some khakis. His husband had decided to give the omyouji a hickey. Some things never change.
Changed, a bittersweet smile graced Subaru's face. That was probably what happened to all the Dragons, either dead and gone or alive and scarred. Neither appeared to be a positive aspect. The man actually never thought much of the Ten no Ryu. However, he wondered about the Seals as people. Most were fairly young. If the youngest, the inugami mistress, Yuzuriha, was alive she would've been twenty-four. Only four years as an adult!
He wandered Tokyo. Could it really be called Tokyo anymore? Everything appeared different. Large expanses of windowed skyscrapers had been rebuilt though, he noticed, with greenery on the roofs and trees abundant on the sidewalk. Streets had been rearranged, and a more diverse population as they bustled to their jobs, schools, and home. The former Sumeragi wanted to laugh. He felt like a tourist, lost and awestruck.
That was when he happened upon a man garbed in a haori coat and called something in English. He excitedly waved pamphlets in front of a stand on the street's corner. Foreigners gathered around as he cried once in Japanese, "Come see the wonderful sights of a renewed Tokyo!"
Out of curiosity, the black-haired male walked closer and a girl in a yukata thrust a parchment in his hand, "Hai."
It was a map. Te map had stars at the landmarks of the area. All were rebuilt structures he could distinguish. However, there was one he failed to recognize he read aloud, "The 1999 Memorial."
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
The Sakurazukamori sat alone in a conference room with its shades shut, as if it could hide the trade he perform. He leaned back in the large chairs with backs at appeared to lumber over his form. All the while the man thought one thing:
I hate businessmen.
He didn't really hate them because they were rich, as long as he could pay the bills and eat, he was content. Nor was it because their preferences in lifestyle differed, that was simply people. None thought alike. What Seishirou really hated was how needy they were. They and politicians were his constant clientele, and begged for the murder of a threat.
How vain, the assassin thought as he fingered his cigarette box. The door behind him opened. From behind him a man of an older age, maybe sixty, came into view. He had on an average stature in his expensive crisp brown suit, "Thank you for coming, Sakurazuka-san. I regrettably must ask-"
"You're not," the said man interjected. His future client stuttered, "E-Excuse me?"
Seishirou pulled out his box and tapped the bottom of if. A stick of nicotine appeared, "If you were remorseful for this task, then you wouldn't have asked me to perform it. I ask, Hitkara-san, if you intend to employ me, to do so without a lapse in your conscience.
The man, Hitakara, cleared his throat, "I see. Well, then I apologize for my earlier words. I would like for you—"
Knock. Knock.
The door creaked open and a voice informed, "I have the papers you wanted, sir."
"Ah, Kyoko-chan, come in," Hitakara replied, his demeanor suddenly brightened as a wolfish smile spread on his features while Seishirou put his cigarette in his mouth.
The man noticed the person enter his peripherals. They wore black dress pants that hugged the upper part of their legs with white heels the enhanced their height. A white chemise that fit perfectly along their lanky figure with a turquoise blazer that made the whole ensemble appropriate for the office setting. Wavy dark locks flounced with the person's stride. They handed their boss a file, "Please excuse my intrusion."
"Not at all," the black spheres of businessman trailed up and down, what Seishirou assumed, was the secretary. The lady turned to exit, revealing their milky baby face and purple spheres. Discreetly, though not enough to fool the assassin, saw the old man grope her butt, "it's is important after all."
Instead of being disgusted or appalled by her boss' actions, the secretary gave a flirtatious smile. The woman headed out the door and paused at the half-blind man's side. He heard a FLICK! SHOSH! A fire entered his visuals, and lit the cigarette.
The Sakurazukamori took a puff before looking at the lady. She gave a teasing smile, "We here at Nadeshiko treat all our associates with the utmost respect."
Placing a special emphasis on the last two words, the man was reminded of the gatherer of the Chi no Ryu, Kanoe. Internally, he shuddered as he returned with a false smile, "What a polite company."
He met with Kyoko's spheres. Vaguely, the Sakurazukamori thought, he had seen those eyes before.
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
Following the map, Subaru reached the sight, which was surprisingly sparsely populated. Green spheres stepped towards the statue entitled, 'The 1999 Memorial'.
It depicted two dragons. One had a look of fury as its claws clutched a helpless human while its tail wrapped around a piece of a skyscraper. Underneath the fearsome beast was a cracked, desolate terrain. All around it were ruins of Tokyo Tower and the Shinjuku Highrises. Metallic blood dribbled from its mouth and talons.
The other dragon maintained a more sobered facial expression as its palms cradled fire. Its tail coiled around a sakura branch while cranes rested besides it. Spikes of grass jutted about while a small hole was left in the piece, that meant to represent a lake reside just in front of the creature.
But the interesting thing was that the dragons were conjoined at their backs and were looking in opposite directions. They were like two sides of a coin, representing chaos and peace. Much, ironically, to the destiny he escaped.
To the omyouji, the artwork nonetheless was beautiful. It was all created from stainless metal and marble and all around the piece were offerings of food, flowers, and other gifts left for loved ones that departed during the dark time. Subaru almost felt guilty, he failed to bring anything for any of the people that died.
"I'll be. I suppose spirits really do enjoy their offerings," a feminine voice quipped from behind him.
Subaru turned to see a couple. There was a man, who was muscular, with roughened and dirty hands. He had tanned skin and brown hair. Latched onto his arm was a lady. She appeared youthful with her ebony hair at her shoulders. Her vibrant gray-green eyes shined.
Her statement left the former Seal baffled. However, he noticed something at their knees. A gray-colored wolf-like dog. It left Subaru agape in realization.
The woman he was looking upon was Nekoi Yuzuriha.
~~~~~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~AllHailEccentricness~~~~~
Tell me honestly, did you see that one coming? If you didn't that's fine, if you did, are you stalking me?