A/N: It's late and I've finally finished chapter 3 of this. *sweatdrops* Eh, I've run out of things to say, so… sorry for the long wait and thanks to my reviewers littlefreeze and Angry Angel. You guys make my day. *smiles* Ah yes, to all of you who celebrate the Lunar New Year: Happy New Year! They say it's lucky to write something on the first day of the year, so enjoy yourself, ne?

Thanks to Kal Kally – my beloved beta reader. ^_^

Disclaimer: CLAMP.

~*~ Crystal ~*~

Chapter 3: Crystalline Eyes.

Running around in the dark during the countdown

A new time will arrive, now…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sakurazukamori were always known as ruthless hunters. They didn't only hunt, but was also possessed. Once they set  their eyes on a prey, they claimed it as their own and would never let anyone else near it. The prey was theirs, all alone. Possessive, weren't they? Sakurazuka Setsuka was no exception.

The beautiful woman who was the twelfth Sakurazukamori was one of those strangely possessive and obsessive people. Like any other Sakurazukamori, she had chosen her one and most special prey – the most important possession of a Sakura Guardian. She had chosen her own son. Not simply a prey to kill, he was more like a toy, something to play with, to manipulate, to fight against. The only prey that could fight back. Though those attempts were all futile, they were her only source of entertainment.

Getting that prey snatched away was not something Setsuka appreciated. And the person who was trying to do so was obviously annoying the hell out of her, a certain person named Monou Fuuma. If it had been anyone else, she would have fed him to the Tree immediately without a second thought. However, unfortunately, that person was Monou Fuuma…

She had seen it coming, really she had. Someday, a stranger would come and snatch Seishirou away from her. But she hadn't expected it to happen so soon. The way that arrogant teenager just barged in and captured Seishirou's attention annoyed her. He was an unnerving guy. She could never know what he would in the next instant. Even her Gift couldn't help her much, because his inner power dampened hers whenever he was around, and Setsuka's pre-cognitive ability was not that strong. Being the powerful and fearless Sakurazukamori, she didn't really need to see much of the future since she would kill those preys all anyway, but now…

Regarding the determined-looking teenager in front of her with a piercing cold gaze, Setsuka smiled slightly. He dared to intrude into her house, regardless of her previous warnings. And to get past all those spells she had cast around the house… Her sickly sweet smile turned a little colder. She would definitely not underestimate the young man. He had strong and dangerous potentials that were yet to show. However, she was still sure that she was able to kill him… but, it would be fun to play around a little bit more…

"So, Monou-san, are you coming in or not?" The young man's eyes darkened at the invitation, or rather, the challenge.

Well, at least she was able to keep her calm and politeness this time. As for the last time they had met… things hadn't gone so well between them. At that time, it had taken a lot of her will power as a cold killer to keep herself from losing control and shredding Fuuma into pieces for the Tree's meal. But she knew that wouldn't do Seishirou any good, despite how much she hated to admit it.

The young man known as Monou Fuuma fixed his gaze on Setsuka levelly. He would not back down this time for sure. He had had enough of this woman, and the sight of his friend inside just angered him more.

"Yes, I would like to." A typical smirk was playing on his face. Two could play this game.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sumeragi Subaru shivered slightly. For some reasons, this place was so cold. It sent chills down his spine. But still… that emotionless gaze the other man was giving him was even colder… He could not understand what was going on, or what he should do now. This place was nearly empty. There were no dreams, no nightmares, no memories to help him to understand this man here. All was empty, except for the crystal shards… and this tree.

The old sakura tree was in full bloom… gentle and gorgeous even in the void darkness of the place. Subaru guessed he shouldn't be surprised that the tree was this beautiful in full bloom, because this was the man's soul's creation… or so he thought. But it looked familiar somehow… He had surely seen it somewhere… No, truthfully, it felt familiar. It had familiar spiritual energy, familiar shape, familiar feelings… That enchanting sensation… which made him feel sleepy… a little bit…

"Whoever you are, you must get out at once." The cold voice hit him like a rock. Subaru snapped up, staring at the blank face of the other man. What was that…? He had felt sleepy and tired, and something was nagging at his sense, something was not right about this… He shouldn't be feeling this way… There was definitely something wrong about this place… something… Then realization suddenly struck him.

This place was sucking his spiritual energy. He could feel the growing energy from the mysterious old tree. That was why he felt so sleepy. But… how could a person's inner mind suck energy? Unless… this place was something more than that…

"You know, I asked you to leave." The cold voice harshly snapped him out of his musing again. It was still void of emotions like its owner's face, but Subaru caught a hint of annoyance. His shy and polite self immediately sprang up, urging him to apologize endlessly and do as he was told, but Subaru had stopped himself in time. His job could not be left unfinished.

"I am sorry, Sakurazuka-san, but I have promised to your… family that I would bring you back. I cannot leave yet." Subaru said quietly, waiting for the man's reaction. Surely it would be a fierce one. But he really hoped that somehow he could be able to persuade the man to come back…

Sakurazuka Seishioru raised an eyebrow. That definitely caught his attention, not because this seemingly shy boy decided to oppose him, but because of the unbelievable irony of one word in it.

"Family".

He tried hard to suppress a snort.

"Family"?

Was the boy referring to Setsuka? Of course… After all, Setsuka was his only family, wasn't she?

"Family".

But still… what a strange concept it sounded to him… Maybe someday he should try to look up the meaning of the word "family" in the dictionary or something, for thinking of Setsuka as his "family" was definitely amusing, even though that was the truth.

"Don't complain that I didn't warn you not to stay… but if you insist…" His voice softened into his sensual tone, a ghostly smirk formed on his lips. "So, tell me, why do I have to come back just because of a promise you made to someone else?" Seishirou hadn't expected to have a guest in this personal place of his, but in the end, the guest didn't turn out to be a bad thing at all. Moreover, this guest was Sumeragi Subaru, and a cute boy nonetheless. Maybe he would have a little fun with this…

If Subaru had felt relieved when the other man's voice had softened and he'd even smiled, then the boy was definitely troubled now. He was not sure how to answer the question. Sakurazuka Seishirou was one with words. Finally, Subaru had to settle with continuing his persuasion.

"Sakurazuka-san, I… really want to help you. If you tell me what's wrong, maybe I can help you out. It's not good staying in a place like this. Everyone will worry for you."

Subaru's heart fluttered nervously as the other man was silent, staring intensely at him. Did I succeed? The dry laughter totally caught him off guard. It was short, but frightening and chilling nonetheless. It echoed in the void darkness like laughter of a devil born from this darkness… Seishirou's amber eyes flashed dangerously sparks of a killer's instinct. Subaru didn't have the time to process the sight or react as numerous long branches from the sakura tree suddenly slashed out at him.

The tree was glowing strongly a strange sort of crimson light… like fire… like blood… The long branches entwined their grasp lovingly but deadly on Subaru, jerking him upwards from the ground. The rough surface of the branches torn at his clothes and clawed at his soft skin, sending searing waves of pain shot through his entire body, straight to his head to cause a dizzy headache. A wave of nausea washed over him. His mind felt numb.

Blood almost immediately oozed from the cuts and scratches. The beautiful dark shade of crimson liquid quickly tainted his tattered clothes and was smeared all over his skin by those rough sakura branches. These branches were not only digging deeper into his skin, but also sucking his energy through the blood. His body slowly became numb. Maybe no one had ever thought that a beautiful tree like this could be so deadly... as it enclosed its glowing bloody 'arms' around its prey's neck. Subaru could not do anything, could not move an inch...

Seishirou rose to his feet with graceful movements that reminded him of Setsuka's, a dangerous smirk playing on the man's face. The heavenly but cold blank mask was gone, left was only the playful cruel smirk of the powerful devil of darkness. Everything changed fast. In this place, Sakurazuka Seishirou controlled everything, and Subaru was in huge disadvantage.

Seishirou slowly approached the captured onmyouji, eyeing his beautiful prey. He rarely hunted, but this prey was worth it. The boy awakened the killing instinct inside of him, making his blood boil with a strangely intense temperature for some unknown reasons... those gorgeous emerald eyes cutting into his soul... He couldn't control himself, couldn't keep himself from the urge to tear this heavenly innocent beauty into shreds of death... As if there was an unknown force pulling him towards this...

He looked at the sight in front of him. It was simply breath-taking, gorgeous... There stood the Tree of death, smearing with blood and the smell of dead sakura; enclosed in its tight and possessive grasp of deadly branches was a beautifully innocent angel from Heaven... An angel from Heaven in the deepest pit of Hell... with blood... That was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen, since that time...

Unconsciously, his hands trailed lovingly along the rough branches, upwards to Subaru's arms, then face… Everything was so soft, so beautiful, so innocent, so pure... those eyes... burning into him... That lithe body couldn't help but shuddered and trembled under his cold touch... making him want to grab it and tear it apart... hearing the boy's sweetly desperate scream... Was it the searing pain that made it a bit hard for the boy to breathe or something else, he wasn't sure…

"What's wrong? Didn't you say that you wanted to help me?" Seishirou's hand bringing Subaru's face nearer to his, so that his deep husky voice whispered into the boy's ear. Strange sensations ran down Subaru's spine and his words choke in his throat. Familiar images flashed through his mind. Familiar sensations were running all over his body... burning him...

It was like this... the branches held me down…

"You know what…" Seishirou suddenly grabbed a handful of the boy's hair. "This place is good to stay in." Blood was seeping from the scratches and cuts the branches were causing to Subaru. He bit back the burning pain and concentrated on the man's words.

"After all, it's all pain, betrayal and death out there… all the devils… This place is peaceful, calm, beautiful, don't you think so? Safe in the darkness…" He could felt the older man's breath so near to his face... "Because I'm a creature of darkness, I should stay here… And don't worry, no one will worry for me. No one knows my existence, no one cares, so they wouldn't worry… I'm better off in my own world… It's good to stay here." Seishirou hissed into the younger man's ears, while the branches tightened their grasp on him, cutting him deeper as the blood dripped down.

Subaru grimaced as another wave of pain shot through. His vision was blurring…

His eyes were so forlorn… looking at me… pain and anger… hurt…

"I am a creature of darkness…"

"You'd better be more careful… this world is full of evils…"

"I'm better off in my own world, don't you think?"

"No one knows my existence…"

"I won't kill you…"

"No one cares…"

"I do…" A painful whisper escaped his parted lips. He could not see clearly anymore... His mind was in chaos... numb by that burning pain... Subaru managed to look straight into the other man's beautiful amber eyes. Seishirou abruptly jerked up, staring at emerald eyes in front of him.

"What?"

"I do care… I would worry if you were hurt… I do care for you…" He didn't know what he was saying or why he was saying those words anymore… His mind was not thinking straight… A genuine smile unconsciously found its way to his face.

"I do…"

Seishirou stared at him in shock, speechless.

Why do I care for you? Why? Why are you so familiar? We have met, haven't we? I promised… that time… I also promised you…

A bright light suddenly erupted around the two. Seishirou jerked back, feeling a strong force pulling him out…

Why…?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Fuuma was only about to step past Setsuka when he felt it. Bright light blinded his vision; a strangely strong force hit him full-blown, making him stumble slightly, head spinning. He was vaguely aware of Setsuka abruptly turning around and running towards Seishirou, her face paled slightly. So she had felt it too… but, what was that?

"Seishirou?"

As his vision was back to normal and everything was steady in his eyes again, Fuuma looked up. His friend had woken up.

Seishirou didn't need to look to know that he was back in his room. He didn't know how though… Seishirou settled to staring at the gasping boy in front of him. He pulled me out. But… just what had he been saying…? What did all that mean?

Fuuma frowned as Seishirou's gaze was transfixed on the boy on top of him. It was like he only saw the boy, Setsuka was completely ignored. Everything else was completely ignored. Something had definitely happened… Then a thought suddenly struck him, making his heart beat faster.

What if… this boy is the One to help Seishirou?

~*~*~*~*~End Chapter 3~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Oi, my chapters are getting shorter and shorter by the day. o_O;; Sorry, that's because I still have some other fics to update… Ah, try listening to Evanescence while writing fanfics. It helps a lot, you know.