Crimson on Lilac
[A X / Fruit Basket Crossover ]
By: Teno Hikari
email: tenohikari@cs.com
Summary: Sequel to 'Family Reunion' - reunited with his family, Kamui's peaceful life with his father, Souma Yuki, comes to a shattering halt when history repeats itself.
Warning: Dark themes with some slashy hints but I'm sure you're use to them if you've see X ... (and there's a little of it in Fruit Basket) ... you have been warned.
--------------------------
Chapter Three
A cry of agony tear from his throat as the hard steel bit though his palm, impaling the hand to the hard concrete above him. Wires, strong and tight, bound him against the remains of a building, while shards of glass pierced his flesh and drew blood. A strong hand cupped his chin and violet eyes watered with tears to meet the gaze of his once best friend. A betrayal from someone so close to him was pain far greater than the physical ones he was suffering from now.
"You have a beautiful scream," the Dragon of Earth told him, twisting a shard of glass in Kamui's other pinned arm. The taller boy smiled as he listened to the scream come from those lips again. "Music to my ears."
"Fu ... uma," the pinned teenager whispered hoarsely, confused and afraid by his friend's strange behavior. Only hours ago they had witnessed Tokiko's death. Only hours ago did his best friend promise to protect him. "Why?"
"Because you made your decision," Fuuma purred, lightly licking the trailing blood down Kamui's throat. "You chose to be a Dragon of Heaven ... and so, I must become The Dragon of Earth."
"What...?" Kamui winced as his friend nipped playfully at his earlobe. "What are you talking about?"
"Destiny," murmured the Dragon of Earth. "Fate has chosen my path the moment you chose yours. I am the harbinger of destruction ..."
Those familiar hazel eyes than became red and Kamui could no longer recognize his friend. A hunter's smile appeared on the face of crimson-eyed stranger as he leaned down to whisper in the other's ear. The holy sword withdrew from the impaled hand and the Dragon of Heaven slumped forward in his binds.
"I am your Gemini."
His eyes widened in horror as the same sword that pierced through his hand was now rammed through Kotori's heart. The girl's eyes widened but did not scream as she whispered his name with her last breath. Fuuma stood on top of the crucifix, bloody sword in his hand ... and smiled.
"I am ... Kamui!"
[ "And As long as you exist in this world ...
... so will I." ]
"Kamui-kun!"
His violet eyes snapped open after he blindly lashed out at the one who pinned him. Breathing deeply, awareness dawned and he looked up and saw Yuki starring down with him in concern. A hand reached out to dry his tears and the teen found himself recoiling away, remembering Fuuma's touch.
"Kamui-kun," his father said gently this time. "It's okay ... it was just another nightmare ..."
'Another nightmare ... another recurring dream ...'
A few minutes later, the teenager calmed down as he lay back on his futon. Another nightmare ... they were becoming less frequent and it had been weeks since his last one which wasn't even of Fuuma. So ... why was he dreaming about his friend now? Why that memory now that Fuuma was dead?
"Are you feeling okay now?" Yuki asked, still kneeling by his side like protective parent he had become these past months. "Do you need anything?"
'Yes,' he thought bitterly. 'Yes ... I need to turn the hourglass of time over ... change everything and make them right.'
The boy starred up at the ceiling for a few moments before shaking his head. Without speaking a word, he rolled over and closed his eyes ... attempting to sleep once again. Yuki wanted to say something ... comfort the suffering boy ... but he couldn't find the words. How could he even begin to feel the pain this boy had went through? There was still gaps in Kamui's story about the Destiny Apocalypse, gaps Kamui left there on purpose. It was like missing puzzle pieces ... even though he saw the big picture, it was still quite unclear and incomplete. Those missing pieces were obviously what the boy was suffering from.
'Why won't you tell me?' he wanted to ask as he starred at the back of Kamui's head. 'Are you afraid of how I will react? Or are worried about it being a burden on me as it is on you?'
He gave up and turned off the lights before slipping into his own futon. He wondered what would Torhu do in a situation like this one. Torhu, the girl who had brought so much happiness into his life, the mother of his child. Her usually happy smile could calm down any kind of raging storm and save anyone who was drowning in misery. She had only been with them for a year, and had changed his life completely ... if only she was here now. Yuki would haven given anything in the world to have her with them, to let her warm smile melt away all the pain and suffering they were still going through. 'If only...' Yuki finally closed his eyes and went to sleep.
However, the boy on the other side of the room remained awake. He kept silent until he could hear the short deep breaths from the older man, indicating that he was asleep. Carefully and quietly, he slipped out of his blankets and out the bedroom door. His bare feet carried him outside the house, away from its sleeping inhabitants, and climbed up to the roof using the ladder. Keeping his balance, he surveyed the dark lands around the house, and was thankful for the moonlight that kept him from stumbling around in the dark.
Although it was summer, the night was cool as a gentle breeze ruffled his hair and he shivered then pulled his bed robe closer to himself. Slowly he brought hand to his face, uncurled his fingers, and starred at the faint scar on his palm that had been caused by the sword Tokiko had given birth to. The same sword that killed Kotori. The scar had remained since that day unlike the other wounds inflicted upon him, a scratch from the holy sword would be forever.
[ "And As long as you exist in this world ...
... so will I." ]
He tear his gaze away from the scar as he lowered his hand from his eyes, to disgusted to look at it. His fingers curled inward, letting his the bite into his skin. The physical pain was a distraction, that the former Dragon of Heaven freely accepted as he ground his nails deeper ... not caring about the blood that trickled down his fingers. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched tighter. Why did the nightmare return? Why after all this time? Why did it let him heal for a few months only to come back again?
[ "Because you made your decision." ]
A shiver ran down his spine and violet eyes snapped open as he could feel eyes on him. It was the same eerie feeling ... the same way he knew Hinoto, the dead dreamgazer, had been watching him. Without moving from his spot on the roof, he let his eyes scan his surroundings ... trying to pinpoint where this strange energy was coming from.... then they stopped and focused on a figure leaning against the tree several feet away. Another shiver ran down his spine as he pictured Fuuma's ice stare and when he blinked, the presence that he had felt was no longer there anymore. Had he imagined it?
"Kamui-kun?"
Surprised, The teenager had almost lost his footing and fell off the roof but he quickly regained his balance then whirled to face Yuzuriha. Had she felt it too? The seal clutched her own robe closer to herself as she starred at him curiously.
"Can't sleep?" she asked and slowly sat down.
"Ah," he nodded and scratched his head. The presence was definitely gone without a trace and he wondered if had been there at all. 'I'm getting paranoid.'
"What about you?" he asked, sitting down beside her. "Why are you awake?"
"There's just a lot on my mind," she said, folding her knees closer to her chest. "A lot of things I can't stop thinking about."
Kamui blinked, "What kind of things?"
"Kusanagi-san," she whispered.
Kamui shook his head, he couldn't believe that he had forgotten. Shiyu Kusanagi had been the only Dragon of Earth who had survived ... and he had been very close with Yuzuriha who had confessed her love to him. It never occurred to Kamui that his closest friend stopped talking about her special person.
"He moved to Okinawa some time ago," she explained. "He still keeps in touch by mail ... but I ... I don't think he's coming back at all."
"Yuzuriha," Kamui breathed. Guilt stabbed at him, he had been to focused on *his* problems and *his* pain that he hadn't even thought about hers. It was horrible since she was always there for him ... always willing to lend an ear for his problems. What had he done for her? "Yuzuriha ... I'm so sorry."
"Why?" she looked at him, refusing to shed any tears. "It was my fault ... I fell in love with someone who didn't love me back ... he cared for me greatly ... but it wasn't the same ..."
The tears she had fought to keep down, started to shimmer through her emerald eyes and Kamui could feel the knife in his heart twist. The girl closed her eyes and laughed lightly. Her shoulders trembled as the wind picked up and he unconsciously leaned forward and place her arm around her.
"I set myself up for the fall," she whispered hoarsely. "I knew he didn't love me back ... I knew that someday he would leave ... I just didn't ... just didn't want to believe it ..."
She buried her face in her hands so he would see her pain. "Oh Kamui ... I'm so stupid ... so pathetic ..."
"Stop it," he commanded, pulling her even closer to him. "Don't talk like that ... you did nothing wrong."
She didn't respond, absently wiping the tears away with her sleeves. He knew he ought to say more but wasn't able to find the words. It had been a long time since he comforted anyone ... a very long time. The days he had been the Dragon of Heaven had gone by quickly and Kamui wondered if he had comforted any of his team mates as they grieved for their loved ones. The thought didn't make him feel any better, more regrets to worry about.
[ 'Kamui ... I have never given you good advice,' Sorata told him while looking out the window. The monk had been serious for once as he tried to talk to Kamui after Fuuma killed Saiki and hurt Subaru. 'But I will say this ... you should think about what to do, so can get rid of that feeling of regret.'
Kamui opened his eyes and turned to face the Seal, a little bewildered that the older boy had said such a thing.
'Kamui, you have enough regrets already! Look forward and start working on that!'
'You ... you're right. If I don't ... I'll regret it again.' ]
Kamui closed his eyes as he hugged Yuzuriha closer. 'I'm going to follow your advice again ... I can't help but feel regret ... but maybe now I can do something about it ... for myself, for Yuzuriha and the others ... maybe I can ...'
"Kamui-kun? It's getting cold ... let's go back inside, okay?"
Broken out of reverie, he looked down to see smiling slightly up at him and blushed a little. Slowly, he disentangled himself from her then stood up and offered her his hand. Still smiling, she took it and let herself be lifted to her feet until she stumbled a little and collapsed into his arms.
"Yuzu-chan," he whispered as the blush on his face darkened. "Are you okay?"
"Uh ...," she stammered, regaining her balance. "Ha-Hai! Gomen ne ... er ... thanks for catching me ..."
"Anytime," he smiled and tried not to look into her nervous eyes. 'I'll always catch you if you fall ...'
Narrowed and cold eyes watched the two as they climbed down from the roof and back into the house. Eyes closed and a small smile appeared on the watcher's lips then let out a small laugh that faded with the howling wind. The watcher then turned away and vanished into the night.
[ Author's Note ]
Yes they're finally going on the trip in the next chapter because I know you're all dying to see Yisou-san (or Okami-san, or Ritsu's mom, whatever you call her) freak out about every little 'bad' thing that goes wrong.
[A X / Fruit Basket Crossover ]
By: Teno Hikari
email: tenohikari@cs.com
Summary: Sequel to 'Family Reunion' - reunited with his family, Kamui's peaceful life with his father, Souma Yuki, comes to a shattering halt when history repeats itself.
Warning: Dark themes with some slashy hints but I'm sure you're use to them if you've see X ... (and there's a little of it in Fruit Basket) ... you have been warned.
--------------------------
Chapter Three
A cry of agony tear from his throat as the hard steel bit though his palm, impaling the hand to the hard concrete above him. Wires, strong and tight, bound him against the remains of a building, while shards of glass pierced his flesh and drew blood. A strong hand cupped his chin and violet eyes watered with tears to meet the gaze of his once best friend. A betrayal from someone so close to him was pain far greater than the physical ones he was suffering from now.
"You have a beautiful scream," the Dragon of Earth told him, twisting a shard of glass in Kamui's other pinned arm. The taller boy smiled as he listened to the scream come from those lips again. "Music to my ears."
"Fu ... uma," the pinned teenager whispered hoarsely, confused and afraid by his friend's strange behavior. Only hours ago they had witnessed Tokiko's death. Only hours ago did his best friend promise to protect him. "Why?"
"Because you made your decision," Fuuma purred, lightly licking the trailing blood down Kamui's throat. "You chose to be a Dragon of Heaven ... and so, I must become The Dragon of Earth."
"What...?" Kamui winced as his friend nipped playfully at his earlobe. "What are you talking about?"
"Destiny," murmured the Dragon of Earth. "Fate has chosen my path the moment you chose yours. I am the harbinger of destruction ..."
Those familiar hazel eyes than became red and Kamui could no longer recognize his friend. A hunter's smile appeared on the face of crimson-eyed stranger as he leaned down to whisper in the other's ear. The holy sword withdrew from the impaled hand and the Dragon of Heaven slumped forward in his binds.
"I am your Gemini."
His eyes widened in horror as the same sword that pierced through his hand was now rammed through Kotori's heart. The girl's eyes widened but did not scream as she whispered his name with her last breath. Fuuma stood on top of the crucifix, bloody sword in his hand ... and smiled.
"I am ... Kamui!"
[ "And As long as you exist in this world ...
... so will I." ]
"Kamui-kun!"
His violet eyes snapped open after he blindly lashed out at the one who pinned him. Breathing deeply, awareness dawned and he looked up and saw Yuki starring down with him in concern. A hand reached out to dry his tears and the teen found himself recoiling away, remembering Fuuma's touch.
"Kamui-kun," his father said gently this time. "It's okay ... it was just another nightmare ..."
'Another nightmare ... another recurring dream ...'
A few minutes later, the teenager calmed down as he lay back on his futon. Another nightmare ... they were becoming less frequent and it had been weeks since his last one which wasn't even of Fuuma. So ... why was he dreaming about his friend now? Why that memory now that Fuuma was dead?
"Are you feeling okay now?" Yuki asked, still kneeling by his side like protective parent he had become these past months. "Do you need anything?"
'Yes,' he thought bitterly. 'Yes ... I need to turn the hourglass of time over ... change everything and make them right.'
The boy starred up at the ceiling for a few moments before shaking his head. Without speaking a word, he rolled over and closed his eyes ... attempting to sleep once again. Yuki wanted to say something ... comfort the suffering boy ... but he couldn't find the words. How could he even begin to feel the pain this boy had went through? There was still gaps in Kamui's story about the Destiny Apocalypse, gaps Kamui left there on purpose. It was like missing puzzle pieces ... even though he saw the big picture, it was still quite unclear and incomplete. Those missing pieces were obviously what the boy was suffering from.
'Why won't you tell me?' he wanted to ask as he starred at the back of Kamui's head. 'Are you afraid of how I will react? Or are worried about it being a burden on me as it is on you?'
He gave up and turned off the lights before slipping into his own futon. He wondered what would Torhu do in a situation like this one. Torhu, the girl who had brought so much happiness into his life, the mother of his child. Her usually happy smile could calm down any kind of raging storm and save anyone who was drowning in misery. She had only been with them for a year, and had changed his life completely ... if only she was here now. Yuki would haven given anything in the world to have her with them, to let her warm smile melt away all the pain and suffering they were still going through. 'If only...' Yuki finally closed his eyes and went to sleep.
However, the boy on the other side of the room remained awake. He kept silent until he could hear the short deep breaths from the older man, indicating that he was asleep. Carefully and quietly, he slipped out of his blankets and out the bedroom door. His bare feet carried him outside the house, away from its sleeping inhabitants, and climbed up to the roof using the ladder. Keeping his balance, he surveyed the dark lands around the house, and was thankful for the moonlight that kept him from stumbling around in the dark.
Although it was summer, the night was cool as a gentle breeze ruffled his hair and he shivered then pulled his bed robe closer to himself. Slowly he brought hand to his face, uncurled his fingers, and starred at the faint scar on his palm that had been caused by the sword Tokiko had given birth to. The same sword that killed Kotori. The scar had remained since that day unlike the other wounds inflicted upon him, a scratch from the holy sword would be forever.
[ "And As long as you exist in this world ...
... so will I." ]
He tear his gaze away from the scar as he lowered his hand from his eyes, to disgusted to look at it. His fingers curled inward, letting his the bite into his skin. The physical pain was a distraction, that the former Dragon of Heaven freely accepted as he ground his nails deeper ... not caring about the blood that trickled down his fingers. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched tighter. Why did the nightmare return? Why after all this time? Why did it let him heal for a few months only to come back again?
[ "Because you made your decision." ]
A shiver ran down his spine and violet eyes snapped open as he could feel eyes on him. It was the same eerie feeling ... the same way he knew Hinoto, the dead dreamgazer, had been watching him. Without moving from his spot on the roof, he let his eyes scan his surroundings ... trying to pinpoint where this strange energy was coming from.... then they stopped and focused on a figure leaning against the tree several feet away. Another shiver ran down his spine as he pictured Fuuma's ice stare and when he blinked, the presence that he had felt was no longer there anymore. Had he imagined it?
"Kamui-kun?"
Surprised, The teenager had almost lost his footing and fell off the roof but he quickly regained his balance then whirled to face Yuzuriha. Had she felt it too? The seal clutched her own robe closer to herself as she starred at him curiously.
"Can't sleep?" she asked and slowly sat down.
"Ah," he nodded and scratched his head. The presence was definitely gone without a trace and he wondered if had been there at all. 'I'm getting paranoid.'
"What about you?" he asked, sitting down beside her. "Why are you awake?"
"There's just a lot on my mind," she said, folding her knees closer to her chest. "A lot of things I can't stop thinking about."
Kamui blinked, "What kind of things?"
"Kusanagi-san," she whispered.
Kamui shook his head, he couldn't believe that he had forgotten. Shiyu Kusanagi had been the only Dragon of Earth who had survived ... and he had been very close with Yuzuriha who had confessed her love to him. It never occurred to Kamui that his closest friend stopped talking about her special person.
"He moved to Okinawa some time ago," she explained. "He still keeps in touch by mail ... but I ... I don't think he's coming back at all."
"Yuzuriha," Kamui breathed. Guilt stabbed at him, he had been to focused on *his* problems and *his* pain that he hadn't even thought about hers. It was horrible since she was always there for him ... always willing to lend an ear for his problems. What had he done for her? "Yuzuriha ... I'm so sorry."
"Why?" she looked at him, refusing to shed any tears. "It was my fault ... I fell in love with someone who didn't love me back ... he cared for me greatly ... but it wasn't the same ..."
The tears she had fought to keep down, started to shimmer through her emerald eyes and Kamui could feel the knife in his heart twist. The girl closed her eyes and laughed lightly. Her shoulders trembled as the wind picked up and he unconsciously leaned forward and place her arm around her.
"I set myself up for the fall," she whispered hoarsely. "I knew he didn't love me back ... I knew that someday he would leave ... I just didn't ... just didn't want to believe it ..."
She buried her face in her hands so he would see her pain. "Oh Kamui ... I'm so stupid ... so pathetic ..."
"Stop it," he commanded, pulling her even closer to him. "Don't talk like that ... you did nothing wrong."
She didn't respond, absently wiping the tears away with her sleeves. He knew he ought to say more but wasn't able to find the words. It had been a long time since he comforted anyone ... a very long time. The days he had been the Dragon of Heaven had gone by quickly and Kamui wondered if he had comforted any of his team mates as they grieved for their loved ones. The thought didn't make him feel any better, more regrets to worry about.
[ 'Kamui ... I have never given you good advice,' Sorata told him while looking out the window. The monk had been serious for once as he tried to talk to Kamui after Fuuma killed Saiki and hurt Subaru. 'But I will say this ... you should think about what to do, so can get rid of that feeling of regret.'
Kamui opened his eyes and turned to face the Seal, a little bewildered that the older boy had said such a thing.
'Kamui, you have enough regrets already! Look forward and start working on that!'
'You ... you're right. If I don't ... I'll regret it again.' ]
Kamui closed his eyes as he hugged Yuzuriha closer. 'I'm going to follow your advice again ... I can't help but feel regret ... but maybe now I can do something about it ... for myself, for Yuzuriha and the others ... maybe I can ...'
"Kamui-kun? It's getting cold ... let's go back inside, okay?"
Broken out of reverie, he looked down to see smiling slightly up at him and blushed a little. Slowly, he disentangled himself from her then stood up and offered her his hand. Still smiling, she took it and let herself be lifted to her feet until she stumbled a little and collapsed into his arms.
"Yuzu-chan," he whispered as the blush on his face darkened. "Are you okay?"
"Uh ...," she stammered, regaining her balance. "Ha-Hai! Gomen ne ... er ... thanks for catching me ..."
"Anytime," he smiled and tried not to look into her nervous eyes. 'I'll always catch you if you fall ...'
Narrowed and cold eyes watched the two as they climbed down from the roof and back into the house. Eyes closed and a small smile appeared on the watcher's lips then let out a small laugh that faded with the howling wind. The watcher then turned away and vanished into the night.
[ Author's Note ]
Yes they're finally going on the trip in the next chapter because I know you're all dying to see Yisou-san (or Okami-san, or Ritsu's mom, whatever you call her) freak out about every little 'bad' thing that goes wrong.