This part contains spoilers for all of Tokyo Babylon, but not much for X. There is also much fluff and cuteness, in preparation for angst to come.
A Little Bet
A 'Yume' side story.
Chapter Four
Subaru let himself into his apartment after a morning of shopping, noting that, as usual, Seishirou was inside. When he entered the living room, he was almost knocked over by a brown ball of fuzz.
He picked it up, regarding it in a somewhat non-plussed manner. "... Seishirou-san?" he called. "What's this?"
"It's a puppy. I thought you'd like it," said Seishirou, from the direction of the kitchen. Judging by the smells wafting out, he was preparing lunch.
"But... the apartment..." stuttered Subaru.
"I spoke to the manager. She says it's fine."
"But..." The puppy licked his cheek, making the onmyouji smile involuntarily. It was rather cute, with big brown eyes and floppy ears. "Oh, okay. I'll let you stay." He put the puppy down, letting it run free in the living room.
Seishirou walked out with two neatly prepared plates of food.
"What are we going to call him?" asked Subaru, after a while. He absently poked at a piece of rice with his chopsticks. Seishirou's cooking wasn't half bad, actually, but Subaru wasn't very hungry. He rarely was.
"It's a girl, actually." Seishirou thought for a bit. "Hokuto?"
Subaru glared at him. "That's in very bad taste, Seishirou-san."
"Fine, fine... I just thought you might want to commemorate her."
"I'll name my first daughter after her. Not a puppy."
"Pochi, then?"
Subaru rolled his eyes. "How about Faido?" he countered.
Seishirou smiled. "Faido it is, then."
Subaru blinked at him, then turned his attention back to the puppy, who was in the middle of the room, chasing her tail. "Hello, Faido," he said, smiling softly. He turned his attention back to Seishirou. "Thank you, Seishirou-san."
Seishirou smiled. "Anything for my Subaru-kun."
Subaru scowled and returned to his meal. "Don't call me that," he said, absently. "I'm not your anything."
~ * ~
Against his better judgement, Subaru took the puppy with him to visit the Seals that afternoon.
"He got you a puppy," said Kamui, shocked.
"Yes," said Subaru, smiling happily. "Her name is Faido. Isn't she sweet?" He rolled a rubber ball in front of her and watched her bat at it with clumsy puppy paws.
"Subaru-san, what exactly is going on between you and him?" demanded Tsuru.
Subaru glanced at him. "Oh, we have this little bet going. It's nothing to worry about."
"If he's buying you pets..."
"That's just Seishirou-san. He doesn't mean anything by it." He shrugged, and threw the ball again. "No matter how much I wish he did," he added, quietly.
"Subaru, why are you doing this?" asked Tsuru, in a softer voice. "He's the one that killed your sister, isn't he?"
"I'm doing this," said Subaru, "because I want to know if he can love me."
"And what if he can? Your sister's death is meaningless then!"
"If he can," Subaru said, "then my sister has what she always wanted."
Tsuru had nothing to reply to that with.
"Tsuru..." he said, softly. "You don't need to worry. I'll be okay, no matter what happens."
"But what if he kills you?" asked Tsuru, sounding hurt. "I don't want to lose you. Since Grandmother died, you're the only real family I have."
"I'd miss you, too," spoke up Kamui, looking miserable.
Subaru regarded the two of them wistfully. Both of them, so young, with the fate of the world on their shoulders. It wasn't fair, not in any sense of the word. "He won't kill me," said Subaru, firmly. "I'd kill him before he ever had the chance to hurt me."
But I may kill myself, he added, in the quiet recess of his mind. Because I can't live without Seishirou-san.
--
To Be Continued.
The next part is giving me a lot of trouble so it could be a while. Questions and comments appreciated.