Disclaimer: ME NO OWNIE!!!

*************

Part 13- Subaru

*************

There was a shrill cry and a burst of light. Then all was still.

//Am I... alive?// Subaru thought. He opened his eyes slowly.

He was standing in the center of a familiar maboroshi. The single cherry tree waved in the breeze, and the snow fell down softly. Only one thing was missing that would make the illusion complete...

"Do you still like cherry trees, Subaru-kun?" asked a voice.

He turned, searching for its source. "Seishirou-san..." he breathed, his eyes resting on the black clad figure standing before him.

Seishirou Sakurazuka smiled down at the boy he had broken. "Well Subaru- kun? Do you?"

"No..." Subaru whispered. "No."

"Why?"

//They remind me...// he thought. But he spoke different. "Because of you." he said, glaring at Seishirou.

"Me?" asked Seishirou, bemused. "What ever did I do to make you hate cherry trees?"

Subaru felt his insides clench. "How dare you?! How dare you feign innocence?! You have no right!"

Seishirou silently called the black eagle that was his shikigami to his wrist. "I have every right Subaru-kun. Every right to kill you."

The shiki took to the air...

And screamed as something white slammed into it. Someone new had entered the maboroshi.