His daughter and wife both knew in their own way that this day would come. His wife, well she was a good woman and an excellent wife. A soft spoken, traditional Japanese woman; always obedient yet stubborn in her own ways. She ran a good home, he remembered, so good that he sometimes felt like a guest in it. She was kind, and that's what allowed Subaru to tolerate the situation. Her kindness made him believe that even if she didn't know the details, she understood him well enough not to question the choices he had to make.
The marriage had been arranged years ago, Subaru had only resigned himself to it recently. Time passes quickly when you're not observing it, if he had to wait to confront Seishirou he might as well do something. A masquerade of family seemed as good as anything else at the time, since anyone who married to the Sumeragi family had to understand that work came first.
She seemed to know, perhaps in the way he touched her at night and the way he looked at her, that he was not hers, that he would never be. She did not resent this, only accepted it for the truth it was. Subaru belonged to another.
His daughter, well she was bright for her age and knew well enough that the distance he put between himself and her meant that she should not grow attached. Of course she was too young to understand the details, only that there was something not right with this one called "father". That he did not belong in their family.
Waiting...
Waiting for the sakura laden breeze to sweep away this misplaced item and take it back to where it belonged.
They had been wonderful shelter, Subaru thought as he rode the train through the country side, wonderful shelter. There had been times, few and fleeting, where he forgot who he was and was happy if only for a few seconds. Those seconds he was grateful for, and his family accepted this too and never asked for anything in return.
He knew that he would never seen them again. He knew that death waited for him in Tokyo, with her impressive blossoms blooming out of season. And he knew that if some impossibility occurred and he survived this end, that he would be unworthy of their company.
He had no plan. He glanced at Seishirou, the other man smiling contentedly like nothing in the world was particularly important at the moment, and wondered briefly if he had a plan. And if so, how long had he had it?
As if on command Seishirou's hand fell on Subaru's , squeezing gently. "Don't worry you'll be free soon enough."
Subaru puzzled over the words
--------------------
When Subaru first encountered Rocky he was but a shadow of a boy. At his age, he should have been running and playing with the other children, creating mischief instead of doing chores and whatnot. But an unusual predicament had stolen that ability from the boy and locked him inside his own home.
It were those dark purple eyes that drew Subaru's attention for the very first time. The call of those eyes that caused him to look up suddenly from the alley way and spot the boy in the window watching him from his room a floor up. For Rocky there wasn't anything especially unusual about this, he watched people from that window all the time. Nothing was strikingly different about Subaru than any other traveler.
It was Subaru who could not overthrow the mysterious feeling drawing him down. He had other matters much more important that should have distracted him, but yet those eyes quieted any plans he had circulating in his mind.
Still, after that first glance they did not meet again until the next time Subaru was passing through that small, almost rural area of Japan. Months had passed... Subaru had long forgotten the curious look in the boy's eyes. He had long forgotten about the boy himself. He had too many worries to be concerned.
It was a friend of the family that brought them together again.
He was infringing on the hospitality of a local onmyouji at the time. As a Sumeragi he was provided for where ever he went, the perks of connections he supposed. This particular family could only offer a room from which to rest a few nights and a good, though humble, meal and they apologized profusely for it. But Subaru preferred it this way, if he had to accept this things to avoid offense he'd rather they be humble.
His Grandmother would kill him if he refused a local onmyouji's hospitality, terrible manners she would say. Even if Subaru would much prefer a room at the local inn where he could be alone with his thoughts.
He liked this family, they rarely if ever infringed on his solitude. There was an unspoken understanding between them about such things.
"He needs a doctor," the voice of his host insisted angrily. It shook Subaru from his thoughts and left him staring at the door that separately him from the matters going on in the next room.
There were a low, respectful murmur in reply. And words spoken so muffled by the door that Subaru could not make them out.
"Don't come here again," the onmyouji insisted. "There's nothing I can do about it."
By that time Subaru had already reached the door and began to open it gracefully. He tried his best to appear calm and curious least humiliate his host with the impression Subaru had been disturbed.
The onmyouji gasped anyway, "Sumeragi-san! I'm terribly sorry for waking you."
Subaru glanced at the window, he hadn't realized how late it had gotten. "No matter, I wasn't asleep."
He desperately hated the almost intense reverence from others his family name forced upon him. And suddenly he longed for an escape, any escape, for the moment. Even a wild goose chase.
Especially a wild goose chase.
"What's the problem?" he asked the other man, who he would later learn was the local doctor.
"A child with a bad bout of illness, I was asking Tsukino-san to take a look at him."
Tsukino-san, his host, sighed irritably and looked as if he was preparing to say some to response when Subaru cut him off gracefully. "And you think it may have a spiritual cause?"
The doctor hesitated for a moment before shaking his head solemnly. "I don't know enough to say one way or another, but he won't respond to any kind of treatment."
That did sound like something for an onmyouji to look into. Subaru turned to his host and to the best of his ability managed to sound kind and respectful when he asked, "so what's the problem?"
"I've looked at him before," Tsukino-san responded with irritation.
"This has happened before? The same child?"
"Several times."
"And?"
The doctor spoke up, "the boy recovers for a brief period and then falls ill again."
Subaru raised an eyebrow, passing a questioning glance at him fellow onmyouji for an explanation. Tsukino-san sighed heavily and with sympathy laden eyes-- ones that seemed to scream 'you see what I have to put up with?'-- he elaborated. "I go, find no spiritual presence, the boy shows no signs of psychological trauma, so I cleanse him and the room."
He cast a snide look at the doctor and with much venom in his voice added, "some children are just sickly."
That was true, some children were just prone to constant illness. Still it was something to that Subaru's mind off of his privileged brooding. When he was working, alone in a room with his patient, he was no longer 'Sumeragi-san' and he didn't have to deal with all the ridiculous courtesies that came along with that title.
"Tsukino-san, would you mind terribly of I took a look at the boy?"
In truth he had the authority to do it regardless of the onmyouji's thoughts, but he had learned from his Grandmother that it was bad form to flaunt one's authority.
Tsukino-san gave an offended snort, almost to say 'I know what I'm doing even if I'm not a Sumeragi..." and Subaru quickly amended his statement. "I once had an interest in the medical sciences. Allow me to indulge my curiosity."
------------------
"Seishirou-san what exactly are we doing?"
Seishirou frowned a bit, "we're dating."
"Yes I understand that, why?"
"Well who could resist someone as cute as you?"
Subaru scowled, which he suspected only heightened Seishirou's pleasure in teasing him. "I'm serious, why are we dating?"
"Well what do you think we should be doing?"
Subaru shrugged, "well being mortal enemies and the heirs to feuding families... perhaps ... trying to kill one another?"
Seishirou smiled and wrapped his arm around Subaru's shoulder, guiding him firmly down the street toward their destination. "Well that's hardly fair for you, you're not a fighter."
Subaru snorted and pushed away a little, "I've changed since--"
"Don't take it so personally Subaru-kun, all I'm saying is that fighting and death are my field of expertise. You as a Sumeragi are of unfamiliar soil. You're the good, the light, the truth ... if we battle then you will always be inferior to me, because it's not your nature. You shouldn't be fighting like that anyway. Why try to use my weapons? Aren't they better suited for me?"
"And dating ... this is what? My battle field?"
"Exactly, sharp as usual Subaru-kun. Death, conflict, pain, violence... it's antithesis are Life, peace, healing, love..."
"Are you saying you want me to seduce you?"
Seishirou looked hurt, "you make it sound like such a horrible thing. Don't you think I'm sexy Subaru-kun?"
With a surprised twitch a harsh blush flooded Subaru's face and his frown deepened. "I have no interest in seducing you Seishirou-san," he replied coldly, swallowing whatever was fluttering in the back of his throat.
"Aa but you love me don't you?"
"Not anymore."
Seishirou smiled politely, as if humoring Subaru, "So you say."
"And it's not true?"
"Not at all. It's not in your nature not to love. When I met you, you were my perfect opposite. And even with the blood of that young girl on my hands and her limp body below me you had only love to give ... love and slight curiosity. Why should things have changed?"
"Well there is the small matter of my sister," Subaru hissed coldly.
"Nonsense, I don't believe you're the type of person that reserves a special love for family. Too much empathy in you, you probably loved that first girl just as much you did your own biological sister."
"Even if that's true ... there are some people who do not deserve to be loved."
"Such a silly thing to say my dearest Subaru," Seishirou smiled tenderly at him. Subaru wondered which of Seishirou's many smiles were real and which not. It was too easy to assume that they were all false, but Subaru did not honestly believe it. "I don't mind if you want to insult me, but at least say things you actually believe."
-------------------
"He's a totally malicious person, I don't trust him ... what kind of person goes around asking about the Sakurazukamori?"
"He's a historian, he's just recording accounts."
"Who wants to glorify the Sakurazukamori? Who wants to remember him? Memorialize a serial killer--"
"Assassin," Subaru corrected.
Rocky scowled at the attention Subaru gave to such details. Seishirou didn't kill for pleasure, only to serve that damn tree ... it was true, but it wasn't like it made any difference in the end. There was still more blood on his hands than in his veins. To Rocky it made no difference.
"Whatever," he snapped. "Why do you trust this guy huh? Maybe he is the Sakurazukamori!"
Subaru chuckled and rubbed Rocky's head tenderly. "That's not possible."
"You don't know that," Rocky hissed. His anger was building with each word as he knew no matter what he said, no matter how logical his argument was, he could not win. "Master of illusion right? And he fooled you once before--"
Subaru's eyes cut him off sharply. The message was clear, that was enough out of him. Rocky was not use to such harsh looks from the Sumeragi. It was as effective as a slap in the face.
But it was gone before Rocky could feel guilty for it.
"It's not possible," Subaru assured gently. "Because the Sakurazukamori isn't just anyone, there's a system to it."
"As soon as he shows up, Subaru, a malignant spirit attacks us, what the hell is he then?"
"That had nothing to do with him, it was entirely my fault."
--------------
The Sumeragi head occupied most of my time while in Tokyo. Although Tokyo is a beautiful city and I had always longed to see it, once I had learned of the hidden trails of blood-- the stalk of the Sakurazukamori-- I could never resign myself to casual sightseeing. Subaru wove a tale that captured my imagination. I wondered whenever I found myself alone in the streets, what battles had been fought here? Was Seishirou-san really the last Sakurazukamori? Perhaps he was lurking in the dark streets all along
Most of my thoughts focused around getting to Subaru-dono to hear more of this amazing story. His loss, his suffering, his ill fated love for his Seishirou-san ... it was all fascinating in a terrible way.
I would arrive as early as I could without infringing or being rude, and stay for as long as I was permitted-- this was sometimes well into the night. It was not Subaru who would finally force me to leave, it was his highly irritable winged companion, who was rarely if ever absent, and who obviously did not appreciate my company.
At first I assumed that it was a story telling that bothered Rocky so much. He was overprotective to a fault, and these were extremely painful memories for Subaru. I foolishly assumed that he resented Subaru's sense of peace being disturbed. This was only half true. I didn't realize that he also felt threatened by it.
As I walked towards Subaru's modest apartment, I notice among the seas of people scurrying around Tokyo, a boy who reminded me of the little winged pest. Indeed he did look quiet a bit like Rocky, smoky gray hair with those curious stray silver hairs, pale skin and violet eyes. The resemblance was incredible, except of course for the absence of one very important detail.
This boy was wingless.
It wasn't until by chance the boy looked my way, and a flash of cold recognition skimmed across the surface of his eyes that I realized that it was Rocky. An impossible Rocky, but then... there he was.
Right to the middle of the street.
The boy scowled immediately and seemed to be torn between stopping to let me catch up and walking on like he had not seen me.
After many glanced back and a few hesitations, his conclusion was to slow his pace a bit and let me decide if we were to meet.
I ran after him.
"My God," I whispered. "What on Earth happened?"
The boy was clad in an average pair of jeans, his usual style of shirt and a worn and abused leather jacket. It was good for him, being a rather frail looking in begin with, that the jacket disguised the certain uniqueness of his clothes. For you see, the shirts that Rocky wore were quite necessary considering his ... features, but decidedly odd for a young boy to walk around in. Unless that young boy was looking for a great deal of trouble that is.
Rocky's shirt's were both sleeveless and backless. This particular one had a high collar that tied around his neck, and another tie that went around the small of his back. With the jacket it looked like a normal turtleneck, once it was off however ... well ... it was quite an unusual thing for a young boy to be wearing.
Unless that boy had a wingspan of 3.5 meters of course, then it made perfect sense.
"What are you talking about?" Rocky asked coldly.
"Your wings, they're gone!"
Rocky's customary frown deepen and he muttered, "idiot," under his breath before shaking off his jacket and exposing his back.
I was baffled, the long elegant wings were completely gone. The impressive dark peaks that towered a good foot over Rocky's head could never be tucked under a jacket. They were truly gone.
And in their place was the most remarkable thing. Rocky back bore no scars, no bloody wounds or other marks that would explain things should the wings have been violently ripped off him. Smooth, tender, untouched skin, not a single imperfection on it.
There were however smooth brown lines running and curving along his shoulders blades. They formed the image of a pairing of wings, but the tattoo looked quite different from Rocky's actual wings. It was not a tattoo of Rocky's black dragonlike appendages, they were the feathered delicate looking wings, like a dove's.
Finally I ran my fingers across the most disturbing part of it. A thick bony ridge that run adjacent to his shoulders, indeed ... embedded in them.
I flinched, "You mean they? Ouch that must hurt."
"Not really," Rocky shrugged. Disinterested he slid the tanned animal hide back over his shoulders.
"How do they ... how exactly does something that big fit..." I was having a substantial amount of trouble thinking through exactly how I wanted my question to sound. I trailed off unsteadily.
Rocky sneered, "Don't you know anything about magick?"
"My mother taught me anything was possible if you were strong enough to manifest it, she didn't care for specifics."
"Of course not, what is someone like you doing bothering onmyouji? Asking them to tell such intimate stories that you don't even understand."
"Subaru-dono's words confuse me," I admitted. "Even though I know he puts so much energy into being expressive about things."
"You're too stupid and small to understand the greatness he talks about."
"Do you understand it?"
"I understand that people don't need to hear this story you want. That nothing will change if they know about the Sakurazukamori."
"Do you think Subaru-dono believes that?"
"I think he's telling this story for his own reasons. And that's all I need to know."
"What's ... what's your relationship with him anyway? You two don't seem to as those related by blood would." You act more like his pet, an inferior companion, I thought. Obviously I would not have risked voicing this. It was hard to tell how Rocky would have reacted to such an observation. It was clearly offensive, but Rocky seemed to relish in his subservience. So much so that I had for sometime been under the impression that he was a servant of some kind.
But he certainly didn't act like a servant. He referred to Subaru-dono simply as "Subaru" never using any kind of formality, even around me. He was also extremely argumentative, stubborn, pushy ... if he was a servant, he was a terrible brat.
"We're not related at all."
"Then ... you're friends?"
"No, I don't imagine we are."
I was quickly running out of possibilities that I felt comfortable expressing. If I was right it would only be embarrassing, if I was wrong it would be horribly rude. "Well ... why do you live with him?"
"I don't always," Rocky corrected, no longer paying much if any attention to the answers he gave me. "I stay when he lets me stay."
The situation was making me ever more uncomfortable. I wanted to ask all the obvious and prying questions and get it over with. "How did you meet?"
"He gave me my wings."
I did not have to prod, he gave up the story on his own. "I was a very sickly child, falling into illness after illness, never fully recovering, not responding to treatment any kind. Subaru told me that I was holding too much inside myself. Strong emotions, and power were not being allowed to surface and flow naturally. It was putting stress on my body, making me frail and prone to illness.
"But ... I wanted never to let go of her."
