Ohohohohoho !!! I hoped you enjoyed the last chapter. Maybe we make Kamui suffer a bit too much. And Subaru-kun too. ^^;;
Chapter 6 : Return
Kamui stood next to the sakura in Ueno Park, gazing up at the pink petals with hatred. How is it that something you beautiful and yet be something so deadly ? So demonic ? I HATE YOU !!! You're the one who is driving Subaru insane !!! You're the one who is pusing Subaru away from me, when I love him so much !!! WHY ? Kamui thought at the Tree. He wanted to destroy it. He wanted to tear it apart petal by petal, rip it off by the roots, blow it up, anything !!!
:: Because the last Sakurazukamori let my prey go, and I won't let it happen again :: Kamui felt a branch brushing against his cheek, as the Tree answered his thoughts. He shivered in disgust, how dare it touch him ? And why me ? Don't you think that Subaru and I will be Seishirou and him all over again ? What's going to be different this time from the last ? How can you be so sure that Subaru will finally kill me ? Tell me !!! How can you know that you will have my body and my soul ?
:: Because the Sumeragi cannot fight me, so I can make him kill you without him even realizing what he's doing... That's a power I never had over Seishirou... because he willingly chose not to oppose me, I could not force him to do anything against his will... Unlike the Sumeragi... He's a weak one. :: it answered, once again, it's branches brushing against Kamui, this time against one of his arms.
B-But Subaru will never kill me !! I KNOW he wouldn't !!! Kamui again directed his thoughts at the Tree. ::You'll see... I won't let another prey escape from me...:: it finished triumphantly. Kamui hit the Tree in frustration. He wanted to destroy the damn thing more than anything !!! He started gathering energy between his hands, ready to strike on the Sakura, ready to blow it into oblivion.
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Subaru walked in Ueno Park, heading towards the Tree, before going off to find someone to feed it's insatiable hunger. He was almost there when the saw Kamui, and for a moment, he thought the young boy was there begging to be killed and die in his lover's arms. But then he felt the strong energies gathering around the violet-eyed boy, and he knew what was happening: Kamui is going to try to destroy the Tree !!! MY Tree !!! Seishirou-san's Tree !!! he thought in rage.
Kamui was slowly starting to weaken, he wasn't used to handle such a large amout of physic energy. He was on the point of passing out when he was suddenly pushed against the Tree, a knife pressing against his pale throat, drawing a small drop of blood. "What the hell do you think you're DOING ?" Subaru practically yelled at him.
"I-I was just... I just wanted to help you Subaru !!! Because I love you !!!" Kamui answered, not bothering to hide his tears. The hand against him pressed down a bit harder, the drop becoming a thin line of blood. "This..." Subaru started and patted the Tree with his free hand "was Seishirou-san's Tree. And take care of it now, for him. So it's now my Tree, and I let no one touch it. Especially not you. The day you touch it again, will be the day your body and soul become part of it, you hear me ?" he finished. The scared boy simply nodded.
"Good !!! But don't think I'm letting you go. You will be punished." the Sumeragi took the knife away from the fragile boy and roughly shoved him in front of himself. "Subaru !!! Please !!! Let me go !!! I'm just trying to save you !!!" he pleaded. "Enough !!! I don't need to be saved !!! And don't you dare go near the Sakura again, or the next time I'll definetely kill you !!!" he said as he envelopped both of them in a cloud of sakura petals.
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Kamui lay unconcious in Subaru's bed, in the middle of his tears and his blood. Subaru's head hurt for thinking so much about this boy. I hurt Kamui. Kamui loves me. Kamui always comes back to me. Was I ever like this to you Seishirou-san ? Did you enjoy trying to guess whether I'd always go back to your arms ? Maybe it's true, maybe Kamui and I will repeat history...
Subaru watched Kamui for a long time, wondering if the boy would wake up soon, but he stated to worry in deep corner of his mind. Kamui hadn't moved in a long time. The omnyouji felt his soul slowly but surely disappearing, having to will to keep suffering like this. And if Kamui went within this time, he wouldn't be able to help him, because he had lost his powers to heal souls. If Kamui went Within, then he would be truly lost this time.
Subaru was about to fall asleep, not caring in the least whether Kamui had retreated Within or not, when he felt another presence in the room. "Seishirou-san... go away..." he whispered. He did not like the fact that Seishirou was visiting just after he had finished with Kamui. His head, his eyes, his soul ached. The only thing he was wanted was to sleep, but the Sakurazukamori wouldn't let him.
"No Subaru-kun, I can't leave you, not like this... Look at yourself !!! Look at Kamui !!! Do you want to live like this for the rest of your life ? Do you think Kamui wants this ?" he asked the omnyouji. "He was going to destroy my Tree Seishirou-san, I couldn't let him do that." Subaru answered simply.
Seishirou grabbed the younger man, almost roughly, by the shoulders. "Subaru-kun, forget about the Tree !!! Look at what is doing to you !!!" Subaru glared at him and shoved him away. "Seishirou-san that's my Tree !!!" The older man sighed and tried to talk some sense into the Sumeragi. "That's not your damned Tree Subaru !!!! That Tree is taking your soul !!! It's corrupting you !!! Looks at what you just did to Kamui because of it !!! Don't you see ? The Tree is killing you !!! Kamui... he was just trying to save you..."
He couldn't take it anymore. For thirty-four years, he had casted a barrier over his emotions, succeeding to the point of not feeling a single thing for anyone, but now it finally came down. Seishirou just couldn't stand the thought of his gentle, sweet Subaru-kun losing his mind like that. He just couldn't. He fell onto his knees as a tear slid down his eyes. It disgusted him to show this kind of weakness in from of the Sumeragi, especially now, but he just couldn't help. Everyone reached a breaking point, even him.
He stood up from the floor, not looking at Subaru. He walked over to the bed and gently took the unconcious boy into his arms. Kamui... I'm sorry... This is all my fault... he thought as he brushed the hair away from his closed eyes. "I'm sorry Subaru-kun... I'm sorry for causing all this pain to you..." he said, before disappearing in a swirl of sakura with Kamui in his arms.
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Kamui woke up the next morning and looked around. He was back in his own apartment, in his own bed. He slowly sat up, trying to remember how he had gotten there, but the last thing he remembered was Subaru hurting him yet again, himself screaming for him to stop, and then everything was just blackness. He rubbed his eyes and it was then that he noticed Seishirou was seated on a chair next to his bed, still asleep. He felt a nice warmth inside for the man. Almost sorry that he had died. He wondered why Seishirou had brought him home, and even more, why he hadn't left after that.
He tried to get up, but his body protested to that, sending a pang of pain through his whole self. He groaned and fell back onto the bed. Subaru... why do you keep hurting me like this ? Maybe... maybe it would be better if I died on Promised Day... Maybe I'd really like to die at his hands... or Fuuma's...
His thoughts were about to delve deeper into the subject, when he heard a voice next to his bed. "Good morning Kamui. Feel better today ?" Seishirou asked with concern. Kamui shook his head and the older man stroked the boy's hair. "Don't worry, I'll make you some breakfast so you don't have to get out of bed and then I have to talk to you about something important, ok ? I promise I won't hurt you." Kamui only nodded and Seishirou smiled and went into the kitchen to get Kamui something to eat.
Seishirou... He is the only one who cares for me now ! He makes me feel good... he thought. He tried to move again, but again, the pain prevented him from doing so. His body ached so much, but it could not compare to the pain his soul and his heart felt. Why do I have to endure all that ? I'm just a child. Just a child... He felt the tears starting to flow, he didn't want to, not again, but he couldn't stop them once they had started. I'm just a child... Why do I have to save humanity, when I can't even protect those I love ? It should have been someone else... Someone stronger than me...
It was like this Seishirou found him when he returned from the kitchen, lying in his bed, crying silently as he stared at the ceiling. Kamui... all of this, it's not fair... Someone like me deserves that... not a pure soul like yours... He pur the plate with food on the nightstand, sat on the bed next to Kamui and pulled him close. The boy clung to Seishirou's shirt and buried his head there, letting the tears continue. The older man gently rocked him and stroked his hair, waiting for him to calm down.
"I'm sorry Kamui, it's all my fault..." he said. Kamui didn't answer, he simply lay limply in Seishirou's arms. "I have to tell you something very important. Don't ever try to destroy the Tree again. Not even I know the powers it has, nor what would really happen to Subaru-kun if you managed to destroy it, as he is bound to it now." he said. "B-but if the the Tree can't be fought... how am I going to make Subaru come back ?" Kamui asked. "I'll try to think of something else, ok ? I'm sure there must be a way to do it."
Kamui accepted this, as there was nothing else he could do. If even Seishirou didn't know how to actually fight the Tree, what hope he have against it ? He sighed in bitterness, he desperately wished he could make Subaru come back. He loved him, but the omyouji seemed to have forgotten the meaning of that word.
"I have to go now Kamui... I can't stay a long time here... But I promise I'll think of how to make Subaru-kun return to be himself, and I'll come to visit you again whenever you need me." he said, and gently kissed the boy's forehead. Kamui smiled weakly yet sweetly at him. "Thank you Seishirou... Thank you for everything..." he said, and to his surprise the older man actually blushed slightly. "It's the least I can do for you. I've caused everyone so much pain, I feel as if I should now ease yours..." Kamui nodded. "Thank you anyway..." Seishirou smiled and then disappeared from Kamui's bedroom.
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Kamui had fallen back to sleep after giving a few bites to the food Seishirou had left for him. When he woke up again,it was past noon, and he felt someone else in the room with him. He was very tired and still in pain, so he thought at first that Seishirou had come back because he had found a way to save Subaru, but when he opened his eyes, he noticed it was Fuuma...
"F-Fuuma !!! What are you doing here ? Go away !!! Leave me alone !!!" he screamed. Fuuma frowned. "I see your precious Sumeragi was with you last night, ne ? Trying to destroy his Tree, what an intelligent idea Kamui, really !!! Didn't you think this could happen to you ?" Kamui looked away from Fuuma, he couldn't look into his eyes, so full of anger and evil, not the eyes of the Fuuma he knew and loved.
"I... I just want him back Fuuma !!! The way I want you back too !!! Why do I have to lose you both ?" he said, to tired to even cry. The dark Kamui sighed. "Destiny works that way Kamui. It's not up to us to decide what the future will bring." Kamui yawned and his eyes started to close. "It's not fair..." he said weakly. "Maybe not, but that's the way it is and we cannot change that..." Fuuma answered, just as Kamui fell asleep. "Aishiteru Fuuma..." he whispered. And Fuuma decided to leave Kamui alone that day.
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Instead he did something he had come to enjoy to enjoy doing: punish Subaru. He found him, as always, in Ueno Park, under the sakura. Whether to feed a victim or to mourn for Seishirou, the Sumeragi was always there, each and every waking minute, except for the time when he was with Kamui. Today, the omnyouji was looking up at the pink blossoms, lost in thought. Fuuma was able to walk close to him without the other noticing.
"Good day Sakurazukamori. I heard that Kamui tried to destroy your precious plant here. And I keep wondering, why are you guys so obsessed with it ? Seishirou spent more time with that shrub than destroying kekkai, as he should. And now I see you're doing the same, not that I'm asking you to destroy any. What's the point of serving that thing ?"
Subaru glared a Fuuma, all the hate he felt for the younger, arrongant man evident in his eyes. "I will serve whom I please. Besides, you have no idea of the power contained in that Tree." Fuuma just shrugged, as if implying he already had much more power than the Sumeragi could ever hope to have. "Hai, maybe. I don't really care. Anyways, what brings me here is something else entirely. I also heard you gave my beloved Kamui such a punishment from trying to destroy your precious tree. Did you ever hear that what you do to someone will be returned to you ?" he asked nonchalantly.
The omnyouji glared, he hated to be in this positon, because he knew he would never be able to defeat Fuuma. The kamui of the Angels was much more powerful that he could imagine, and not even with the Tree's help he could match him. "You have ten seconds to leave before I kill you, /kamui/." he warned, taking out his ofuda. Fuuma chuckled, "And what makes you think I'm scared of you ? I could kill you single-handedly if I wanted to, right this minute. But you're an amusing one, so I let you live."
This just made Subaru's rage flare even more, and he started chanting an incation. But before he could even utter a single line, Fuuma was on him, pinning him against the Tree. "Don't ever try to mess with me. Or with Kamui. You already know the consequences, and I even suspect you enjoy them as much as I do..." he said, before roughly crushing his lips against the omnyouji's, taking him under his own Tree much more violently than the previous times.
By the time he was finished, Subaru was a mess. He was bleeding practically everywhere and was unconcious. He grabbed his bloody, battered body and took him to Seishirou's old house, leaving him there to either recover or die. He didn't really care what happened to him.
*** *** *** *** ***
Fuuma was back in his own apartment when he recieved another visit from Seishirou. He was tired of hearing a dead man's preachings. "What do you want this time Seishirou ? I take it it's about your Subaru-kun, right ? If you want to know, I think he will die this time, but be happy, he will soon join you. And I will have Kamui all to myself." Fuuma said, almost triumphantly.
"Don't be so sure Fuuma. Subaru-kun may seem to be weak, but he's not, I know it myself. He managed to survive for nine years with all the pain I caused him. What you do to him is nothing. The only thing you're accomplishing with this 'punishments', as you call them, is to hurt Kamui more. Because every time you hurt Subaru-kun like this he takes his revenge on Kamui. If you don't stop, this will become a bloody cycle that will only stop when one of you dies. Probably Kamui." Seishirou answered.
"Go AWAY Seishirou !!! I don't need to hear your lectures !!! I know what I'm doing !!! Kamui is mine and I won't let your stupid Sumeragi take him away from me !!! His life, his body, his soul, his death... all belongs to me Seishirou !!! Do you understand ?" he said, as he gathered raw energy between his hands and threw it to Seishirou. The older man only sighed, and disappered from sight, before the energy hit him, leaving Fuuma alone in his anger.
*** *** *** *** ***
Seishirou visited Subaru again, he just couldn't spend a day far from the Sumeragi. And besides he wanted to talk to him, about his current condition, the Tree, it's powers, and Kamui. And also, maybe this time he would think of something that would free his beloved from the terribly burden he had to carry now.
He appeared in Subaru's house, finding him a mess after what Fuuma had done to him. My poor Subaru-kun, you didn't deserve this... it's all my fault and it's up to me to undo it... He gently stroked his hair and the omyouji's eyes popped open in that instant, as if expecting another attack from Fuuma.
"Shh... It's me Subaru-kun, I'm not going to hurt you." Seishirou said. I want to try to soothe your wounds... It's the least I can do for you after all I did... Subaru didn't want the older man to see him in his weakened state, he was bruised and tired from Fuuma's treatment. "Go away Seishirou-san... Or stay with me forever..." he asked, as his locked his eyes with Seishirou's, one green, the other golden.
And that's when it Seishirou, the way Subaru could be free of the curse. "Subaru-kun... I think I know how you can be free of this curse.. Free of the Tree... Free of being the Sakurazukamori..." he started, and stopped, pondering whether it would work or not, he didn't want to give Subaru any false hopes. He'd had enough of those to last him for eternity. Especially coming from him.
But these words made Subaru's heart stop, because he still had one. "How ?" he asked confused, not betraying any other of the emotions he was feeling at the moment. "You... You have to take off my eye, now !!! Before it's too late !!! Maybe then, you'll go back to your normal self." he explained, because if Subaru removed the eye, then his powers would stop fighting with Seishirou's.
Subaru pondered this for a long minute. His eye ? It was so simple, so easy ! Why didn't I think about that before ? He thought as he looked at the floor, then he looked up, into Seishirou's eyes, because yes, he now had both eyes, after all, he was only a spirit, and he knew why this hadn't occured to him. Because I wanted to keep Seishirou-san with me, in me... Till the day of my death...
Seishirou sat next to Subaru on the bed and waited, wanting to see if Subaru had understood him and would take off the eye. He knew the omyouji would go back to being half-blind, like he himself had been since more than nine years before his death, but he knew it was the best for him. But Subaru didn't do anything, he didn't move, and his eyes didn't seem to be focused on anything. Instead, he seemed to be staring intently at the ceiling, drowned in his own sadness.. Seishirou was starting to think Subaru wouldn't want to do it.
"Subaru-kun ? Are you ok ? Please Subaru-kun, take off my eye right now... Please... I don't want you to suffer like this anymore. I never wanted this to happen to you..." he said, as he turned to the younger man, wanting to see if he had heard, then seeming to consider that he did, he continued. "If you want to do this for me, at least do it for Kamui... He needs you... He needs the real Subaru-kun, not the one I made you become..." Seishirou sighed. He really wish this would work, he didn't want things to continue like this, causing both, Subaru and Kamui, so much pain, and suffering. He closed his eyes, waiting. Waiting for Subaru's decision.
Subaru finally reacted, turning to look at Seishirou, who still had his eyes closed. He is waiting. For his Subaru-kun. For me... he thought. And, for the first time in weeks, Sumeragi Subaru, the former Head of the Sumeragi Clan, the current Sakurazukamori, felt tears on his cheeks. And he understood what he had to do. What was his duty to do.
Subaru slid a hand in Seishirou's and placed the other one over his right eye, Seishirou's beautiful golden eye, and beginning to chant a spell. He felt his hand squeezing his own and, after a short moment, everything was done. Seishirou's eye back in the flask and Subaru was looking at the older man with his again half-blind, green eyes.
After some moments, Seishirou heard Subaru's voice again, the voice of the Subaru-kun he loved. "Seishirou-san... I missed you... I love you..." he said, not able to contain the tears of joy. He was back, he was finally back. Seishirou could hold back no longer, he hadn't been dead but for a few weeks, and he already missed the Sumeragi so much, he had even thought he wouldn't be able to have a peaceful afterlife. Not even if he was being forgiven for all his sins. Afterlife would mean nothing without Subaru by his side.
So he wrapped his very arms around the omyouji as if he never would let him go. "I love you too Subaru-kun... I... I was afraid I had lost you forever... I so glad I didn't..." he said, as he pulled Subaru very close to him, until he could have him no closer without both being a single being. Then he kissed him desperately, pouring out all of the love, passion, longing, and desire for the man in his arms, all what he had kept so deeply buried for more than nine long years. And it felt so right, to be like that, as if they were together for the first time in their lives.
And Subaru slept well that night, with his Seishirou-san's arms around him, protecting him, holding him tightly. He slept well for the first time in a long, long time.
*** *** *** *** ***
The next morning, Seishirou woke up much earlier than Subaru. He looked at the man sleeping in his arms and he couldn't help but smile. My dear Subaru-kun... I love you... he whispered while he tenderly stroked his hair. He looked so beautiful while sleeping, the traces so much pain had left in his face all gone in his sleeps. He was even smiling slightly, as if his nightmares had been replaced by pleasant dreams.
But as much as Seishirou wanted to keep watching his beautiful Subaru, he knew he had to leave soon. He wasn't supposed to spend that much time on Earth, but he just couldn't leave his beloved. He didn't want him to think it had been just a dream when all had been so real. Subaru was back, he really was back. So looked at the nightstand and found some paper and pen there to write a small, but loving note.
My dearest Subaru-kun,
I'm really glad you're back. I'll visit you again soon.
Love, your Seishirou-san
Then he left, leaving Subaru alone in his peaceful sleep.
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Subaru was alone when he woke up that morning. The first thought that crossed his mind was that everything had been a dream, that Seishirou had never visited him. And that he was still the Sakurazukamori. Then he looked in his nightstand and discovered the small note his lover had left him. He read it and he couldn't help but smile. It was so sweet, so nice coming from Seishirou ! The man he loved so much !
He considered the thought of going back to sleep, after all, he hadn't slept this well in week, but finally he discarded the though and got up. He went to the kitchen and a had a very light breakfast, another thing he hadn't done since Seishirou had died. He usually had only one meal day and survived on hate and obsession. Then as soon as he was finished, he went to take a cold shower.
When he got out of the shower, he couldn't help but look at his reflection in the mirror, finding the face of a half-stranger looking back at him. It was all so strange, he wasn't the same person he had been before his lover's death, but he also wasn't the one he had been these past weeks, the one who killed innocent people and tortured Kamui. Kamui... he thought, as he dressed in his shikifuku, preparing for a ritual. Then he gathered the flask containing Seishirou's eye and went to Ueno Park.
He walked directly to the sakura, not with a victim this time, but with Seishirou's eye. He buried it underneath the Tree, hoping he had taken the right decision. I hope you'll rest in peace now Seishirou-san...
He was about to leave when he heard a very well known voice behind him. "Subaru !" He turned around and found Kamui running to him, his beautiful lavender eyes full of tears. Kamui. My sweet, beloved Kamui ! he thought lovingly. The boy should had understood what was going on when he saw the Sumeragi's clothes. Had he still been the Sakurazukamori, he wouldn't be wearing the shikifuku. Kamui threw himself into Subaru's arms and he hugged him tightly.
Kamui looked at him and smiled. You're back ! You're back ! I love you ! he said. Subaru looked at Kamui longly. He was very pale, with big dark circles under his eyes. He was thinner too. Aishiteru Kamui. he answered before kissing him gently and tenderly, so unlike the last kisses they had shared.
Subaru and Kamui went to the latter's apartment. The Sumeragi decided he wouldn't go to Seishirou's house anymore. It held too many bad memories for both them. Memories which he wanted to forget forever. Subaru made Kamui eat and told him he would stay with him that night. And Kamui he would finally be able to sleep well, because he had Subaru back with him again.
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Fuuma knew the Sumeragi had returned to being himself. This was not good for him, because it meant that Subaru would no longer hurt Kamui, who in turn wouldn't come running to him again, as he had during the time when the Sumeragi was the Sakurazukamori. Damn him !!! he cursed. I hate Sumeragi Subaru, whether he is the Head of this own clan or of the Sakurazuka clan, he still gets in my way !!! This time, I swear I will kill him, he won't survive even to see Kamui and me fight on Promised Day... He will die very soon...
Lilly: *Waves her hand in front of the readers* Hello ? Hopefully none of you died because of the fluffness of the last part of the chapter. LOL !!! Reviews would be extremely appreciated by Marion and me. Thanks for reading, next chapter will be up soon.
