Disclaimer: I don't own X-1999, Clamp owns it.
I dedicate this chapter to Xandra, who is an unbelievable nice person and the best beta-reader of the world.
Bonds of Destiny: Chapter 8
In their home at Clamp Campus, Sorata and Arashi were preparing dinner, when Subaru entered the room.
Arashi started, surprised to see the Sumeragi so late in the day. "Good evening, Sumeragi-san," she nodded to him politely.
"Good evening," he replied just as politely.
Sorata watched the Sumeragi carefully. Then he smiled. "Subaru-san, do you want to have something to eat? I swear it is edible!" Sorata exclaimed cheerfully.
Subaru shook his head. "No, thanks. Where is Kamui?"
"Kamui is in his room. He doesn't want to have dinner," Arashi replied in her usual quiet tones.
Concern sneaked into Subaru's eyes. "I think I will go talk to him."
Leaving the teenagers behind, Subaru made his way upstairs.
Down in the kitchen, Sorata wore a slightly relieved look on his face.
"What is the matter?" Arashi asked curiously. She would never admit it aloud, but she was aware that the young monk had an impressive insight on things and people. It was a trait that she envied a little.
"I am not sure, but I thought Subaru-san looked less absent than usual. Something in his eyes has changed," Sorata stated.
"Oh, I didn't notice. Why are you thinking about it?" Arashi probed further.
"His eyes are usually full of pain," Sorata said thoughtfully. "I am glad that there is something else in there now as well. People whose hearts are filled with sorrow and pain usually have no will to live. Most of them are just waiting for death; some even go out to seek it purposely."
Arashi gasped. "Surely not!"
Sorata nodded and continued. "That's why I am glad, Neesan. Subaru-san appears to have found something or someone who can show him that life can still be wonderful." His glance lingered on the empty stairs, where the Sumeragi had disappeared.
Arashi pondered on this for a little while. She had not considered that the Sumeragi would have such darkness in his heart. She wondered just what pain he suffered from. Arashi looked with renewed respect at Sorata for being perceptive enough to see all this. "You can tell that much just by looking into his eyes?"
"There is also the fact that he is spending more and more time here instead of going home to his own apartment," Sorata added.
"Previously, he only came when there was an emergency or when Kamui was injured, which most of the time was the same thing," Sorata said grinning at her. "Now Subaru-san is visiting regularly, spending more and more time on Clamp Campus and with Kamui."
Arashi shrugged. She wasn't quite certain that Sorata was entirely right. She wasn't able to tell what Kamui was feeling most of the time, the only exception being when he cried. Yet Sorata had told her that Kamui showed everything clearly on his face and in his eyes, and had never been able to hide his feelings. So naturally she hadn't noticed anything new about the Sumeragi, who was like her, really goos in keeping his face expressionless.
Upstairs, Subaru paused in front of the door to Kamui's room. He wondered what he was going to say to Kamui. Kamui obviously wasn't in danger even though he was refusing to eat. There was no reason for him to disturb the boy but something inside him felt that it was important to see whether Kamui was all right for himself. So he found himself knocking on the door without knowing what he was going to say.
"Yes?" a low voice answered.
Subaru took a deep breath. "It's me, Subaru."
"Subaru?!" Kamui thought astonished. "What is Subaru doing here? Why isn't he at home?" Kamui's mind raced in confusion, but deep in his heart he was happy. That feeling had become incredibly rare lately, so he was glad each time he felt it. Coincidentally he seemed to feel this gladness whenever Subaru was with him.
Realizing thathe had been quiet for too long, he hastily walked to the door and opened it. The sight of Subaru brought a bright genuine smile to his face.
Subaru froze. There, directly in front of him stood an angel with violet eyes, his smile reaching directly into his heart. Seeing it brought an indescribable joy to Subaru.
Kamui's look turned questioning.
Subaru realized he had been caught staring. Clearing his throat, Subaru groped about for something which could explain his presence. Finally he said: "Sorata told me you refused to have dinner. Are you feeling unwell?"
Inwardly he scolded himself. "Bright idea, Subaru! Of course, they would call you because he didn't want to eat!" Taking a look at Kamui's thin form he added an afterthought to himself, "Perhaps they should call me every time he refuses to eat. He is too thin!"
Kamui was taken aback by that question. Subaru was worried about him having no dinner? He wondered, "Does that mean he actually cares about me? No, it can't be, there is just one person in his heart and that certainly isn't me."
Still he couldn't help a blush from forming on his cheeks. "No, I am alright. I mean.I.I just wasn't hungry." He answered weakly.
The way Subaru was staring at him made Kamui more and more nervous. He could feel butterflies rising in his stomach and his knees getting soft under that intense gaze. Unwilling to look into Subaru's eyes any longer, Kamui turned about and walked into his room, waving at Subaru to invite him in.
Carefully he seated himself on his bed. Kamui thought this way he couldn't lose his balance from his suddenly weak knees. There was nothing he could do to stop the racing beat of his heart and his suddenly dry throat.
Subaru followed Kamui into the room, closing the door behind him. For a moment, he admired the view he was presented. Kamui's delicate form seemed to vanish against all the blankets and pillows on the large bed.
"You aren't hungry? When did you last eat something?" He pressed further. A growl from Kamui's stomach answered his question.
Kamui's face was glowing bright red. Subaru smiled. It wasn't his usual sad smile, but a real one, a smile full of amusement and joy.
The effect of that lovely smile was not lost on Kamui. He thought Subaru could be really beautiful when he smiled. Kamui smiled back in response. Nodding in defeat, he said: "I guess you are right. I should go down and have dinner with the others."
Just then another growl sounded, even louder than Kamui's. "I guess, I am not the only one who should go to dinner, Subaru." Kamui added boldy with a sudden grin.
Subaru's cheeks were as red as Kamui's had been. Then he laughed softly, took Kamui's hand and pulled him out of the bed and towards the door. His jewel green eyes sparkled visibly with life.
Kamui couldn't believe his ears. Subaru was laughing? "I like his laugh," he thought dreamily. He had been startled when his hand was taken but a surge of joy soon flooded through him from the contact. "If this is a dream then I don't want to wake up. His eyes are so alive when he laughs. He is so alive, as if he were another person. I wonder what happened to him, but honestly I don't care. I just want him to continue laughing with me," Kamui thought.
***************************************************************************
Well, that was a difficult chapter to write. I hope you are content with what I created. Please leave me a review! Thanks!
I dedicate this chapter to Xandra, who is an unbelievable nice person and the best beta-reader of the world.
Bonds of Destiny: Chapter 8
In their home at Clamp Campus, Sorata and Arashi were preparing dinner, when Subaru entered the room.
Arashi started, surprised to see the Sumeragi so late in the day. "Good evening, Sumeragi-san," she nodded to him politely.
"Good evening," he replied just as politely.
Sorata watched the Sumeragi carefully. Then he smiled. "Subaru-san, do you want to have something to eat? I swear it is edible!" Sorata exclaimed cheerfully.
Subaru shook his head. "No, thanks. Where is Kamui?"
"Kamui is in his room. He doesn't want to have dinner," Arashi replied in her usual quiet tones.
Concern sneaked into Subaru's eyes. "I think I will go talk to him."
Leaving the teenagers behind, Subaru made his way upstairs.
Down in the kitchen, Sorata wore a slightly relieved look on his face.
"What is the matter?" Arashi asked curiously. She would never admit it aloud, but she was aware that the young monk had an impressive insight on things and people. It was a trait that she envied a little.
"I am not sure, but I thought Subaru-san looked less absent than usual. Something in his eyes has changed," Sorata stated.
"Oh, I didn't notice. Why are you thinking about it?" Arashi probed further.
"His eyes are usually full of pain," Sorata said thoughtfully. "I am glad that there is something else in there now as well. People whose hearts are filled with sorrow and pain usually have no will to live. Most of them are just waiting for death; some even go out to seek it purposely."
Arashi gasped. "Surely not!"
Sorata nodded and continued. "That's why I am glad, Neesan. Subaru-san appears to have found something or someone who can show him that life can still be wonderful." His glance lingered on the empty stairs, where the Sumeragi had disappeared.
Arashi pondered on this for a little while. She had not considered that the Sumeragi would have such darkness in his heart. She wondered just what pain he suffered from. Arashi looked with renewed respect at Sorata for being perceptive enough to see all this. "You can tell that much just by looking into his eyes?"
"There is also the fact that he is spending more and more time here instead of going home to his own apartment," Sorata added.
"Previously, he only came when there was an emergency or when Kamui was injured, which most of the time was the same thing," Sorata said grinning at her. "Now Subaru-san is visiting regularly, spending more and more time on Clamp Campus and with Kamui."
Arashi shrugged. She wasn't quite certain that Sorata was entirely right. She wasn't able to tell what Kamui was feeling most of the time, the only exception being when he cried. Yet Sorata had told her that Kamui showed everything clearly on his face and in his eyes, and had never been able to hide his feelings. So naturally she hadn't noticed anything new about the Sumeragi, who was like her, really goos in keeping his face expressionless.
Upstairs, Subaru paused in front of the door to Kamui's room. He wondered what he was going to say to Kamui. Kamui obviously wasn't in danger even though he was refusing to eat. There was no reason for him to disturb the boy but something inside him felt that it was important to see whether Kamui was all right for himself. So he found himself knocking on the door without knowing what he was going to say.
"Yes?" a low voice answered.
Subaru took a deep breath. "It's me, Subaru."
"Subaru?!" Kamui thought astonished. "What is Subaru doing here? Why isn't he at home?" Kamui's mind raced in confusion, but deep in his heart he was happy. That feeling had become incredibly rare lately, so he was glad each time he felt it. Coincidentally he seemed to feel this gladness whenever Subaru was with him.
Realizing thathe had been quiet for too long, he hastily walked to the door and opened it. The sight of Subaru brought a bright genuine smile to his face.
Subaru froze. There, directly in front of him stood an angel with violet eyes, his smile reaching directly into his heart. Seeing it brought an indescribable joy to Subaru.
Kamui's look turned questioning.
Subaru realized he had been caught staring. Clearing his throat, Subaru groped about for something which could explain his presence. Finally he said: "Sorata told me you refused to have dinner. Are you feeling unwell?"
Inwardly he scolded himself. "Bright idea, Subaru! Of course, they would call you because he didn't want to eat!" Taking a look at Kamui's thin form he added an afterthought to himself, "Perhaps they should call me every time he refuses to eat. He is too thin!"
Kamui was taken aback by that question. Subaru was worried about him having no dinner? He wondered, "Does that mean he actually cares about me? No, it can't be, there is just one person in his heart and that certainly isn't me."
Still he couldn't help a blush from forming on his cheeks. "No, I am alright. I mean.I.I just wasn't hungry." He answered weakly.
The way Subaru was staring at him made Kamui more and more nervous. He could feel butterflies rising in his stomach and his knees getting soft under that intense gaze. Unwilling to look into Subaru's eyes any longer, Kamui turned about and walked into his room, waving at Subaru to invite him in.
Carefully he seated himself on his bed. Kamui thought this way he couldn't lose his balance from his suddenly weak knees. There was nothing he could do to stop the racing beat of his heart and his suddenly dry throat.
Subaru followed Kamui into the room, closing the door behind him. For a moment, he admired the view he was presented. Kamui's delicate form seemed to vanish against all the blankets and pillows on the large bed.
"You aren't hungry? When did you last eat something?" He pressed further. A growl from Kamui's stomach answered his question.
Kamui's face was glowing bright red. Subaru smiled. It wasn't his usual sad smile, but a real one, a smile full of amusement and joy.
The effect of that lovely smile was not lost on Kamui. He thought Subaru could be really beautiful when he smiled. Kamui smiled back in response. Nodding in defeat, he said: "I guess you are right. I should go down and have dinner with the others."
Just then another growl sounded, even louder than Kamui's. "I guess, I am not the only one who should go to dinner, Subaru." Kamui added boldy with a sudden grin.
Subaru's cheeks were as red as Kamui's had been. Then he laughed softly, took Kamui's hand and pulled him out of the bed and towards the door. His jewel green eyes sparkled visibly with life.
Kamui couldn't believe his ears. Subaru was laughing? "I like his laugh," he thought dreamily. He had been startled when his hand was taken but a surge of joy soon flooded through him from the contact. "If this is a dream then I don't want to wake up. His eyes are so alive when he laughs. He is so alive, as if he were another person. I wonder what happened to him, but honestly I don't care. I just want him to continue laughing with me," Kamui thought.
***************************************************************************
Well, that was a difficult chapter to write. I hope you are content with what I created. Please leave me a review! Thanks!
