Things went a lot differently than I originally thought they would. It's December 1999 and we're all still alive. It wasn't supposed to end this way, but as Hokuto-chan reminds me daily, there are sins we can't atone for, but we're all allowed to love. Love. The word I never thought I'd use, at least not seriously. I said it once to my mother, but she saw through me and foresaw there would someone else. Though thanks to Hokuto-chan none of that went the way I planned.
Then there was that boy; the leader of the Dragons of Earth except it wasn't him (according to him in another world I was his brother) that I met a few years before all of us dragons started to gather and warned me if I didn't go down a different path I wouldn't live to see my 34th birthday.
What on earth was that supposed to mean I wouldn't live to see my 34th birthday? I am the Sakurazukamori, I wouldn't walk down the path of my mother, and then he mentioned one name...one name that made me think. That name was Subaru.
It was Christmas Eve and I looked down at my gloved hands. Gloves I wore to conceal the truth from the outside world. Of course the second I walked through the door covered in snow, I was greeted with a bubbly laugh. "You should take those ridiculous things off, it's not cold in here and there's no need to hide in here, now is there?"
She always was a perceptive woman; even as a teenager. The more she aged the more perceptive she became. I chose to keep said gloves on and for a good reason. Entering the main room revealed Kakyou was here; no doubt invited by Hokuto.
"More tea Kakyou?"
He didn't answer; then again, he always was quiet.
"OI SUBARU! IT'S TIME FOR CHRISTMAS TEA SO GET OFF YOUR STUDY DATE AND GET OUT HERE!"
Subaru emerged and behind him was Kamui of the Dragons of Heaven. He glared at my presence but I could care less. I raised an eyebrow at him before heading out to the balcony to smoke. I had the cigarette in my lips and was fumbling for a lighter when a soft click emerged on the right side of me, my blind side.
"You should come inside, it's cold out here."
"As kind as ever Subaru-kun…"
"Yes and no…I've been changed, you know that."
"Hmm, by me I suppose, right?"
"Yes…Seishirou-san?"
I paused to take a drag of the cigarette he had lit for me. "Hmm?"
"Why...why did you tell me I won the Bet then leave?"
"Because I needed time for it to process. I had a hard time accepting that I lost, let alone that I could love someone."
"Stupid…when did you know?"
"When I lost my eye for you, it became clear to me that you were the one…"
"That's when I learnt it as well...I thought I would lose you. I didn't want that…"
"Subaru-kun…." I brushed a stray piece of hair out his eyes...he truly had the most alluring eyes I've seen. In my line of work I had seen many eyes but none of them quite had the shine that Subaru's did. For once I didn't care if anyone could see us; I bent down and kissed him on the lips. Instantly his arms circled my neck and he stood on tiptoe to kiss me back.
So this is what it was like kissing someone you actually loved.
As we kissed I dipped him down and I felt him cling to me tightly, as if afraid I would drop him. No, no fear there, I would never hurt you again, ever, Subaru-kun.
Pulling away I was left looking into those eyes again. "I…you…"
