*****
His hand slipped around the knob, and he turned it. With a jolt it was pushed open as if something heavy was lying on it, and a body collapsed into the surprised Sumeragi's arms. The matted hair was sweaty and thick with blood. The suit, which had been well-cut, was fairly destroyed and torn, and rivulets of crimson could be seen slowly drying in the night air. A musky, slightly salty sent also hung about, but Subaru couldn't quite identify it
"Oh, I'm glad it was you who answered, Subaru-kun," a tired, woefully amused voice answered him. Seishirou-san?!?! The Sakurazukamori looked up, smiled ironically, and collapsed, unconscious, into the stunned silence.
*****
A warm, humid breeze stirred the light ceremonial gown, faded pink in the afternoon sun. Seishirou's eyes were closed, and all he could feel was the light touch of the air and the lighter touch of Setsuka.
You're so honest, Seishirou. Funny, you have no heart, but you have a heart.
People would die without their hearts
Oh? You are not troubled by death.
The light touch, the gentle kiss, the sensual caress, all facets of what he remembered. All part of that warmth that he could feel but not feel, the cold snow tinted crimson by the spreading stain, the realization that someone could care for him and that he could not return the favor. But that was no longer true.
The light faded into non-light, and once more the Dreamgazer stood in front of him, eyes turned downward as always, doleful and beautiful as if in death. The silence wrapped around him like a blanket full of doubt, until the final vestiges of the spring dream had been replaced by a clammy swath of apprehension. Kakyou looked up, held out his hand to the Sakurazukamori, and as Seishirou reached for it, he heard a voice long though dead ring out in the silence. "Sei-chan!
Kakyou's hand faded into the Dreamscape, and the last trace of Hokuto echoed into silence.
*****
Seishirou stirred to consciousness and found his own hand being clasped in two fragile, warm hands. He smiled at the wall and said lightly, "Good morning, Subaru-kun.
"He's gone out to see Hinoto-hime. You've been asleep for almost a day and a half." The voice wasn't Subaru's. Startled, Seishirou looked over and saw Kamui sitting there, his face a study in blankness.
"Oh. Kamui-kun. To what do I owe the honor of being alive?" Certainly a reasonable question given the boy's hatred for Seishirou and his helplessness.
"Subaru's wish. And yours. And the curse of being with the Ten no Ryuu." Kamui got up and stalked out of the room, clearly disturbed. Seishirou watched the door for awhile, then felt his head sag back down to the pillow in exhaustion.
*****
When he awoke again, he saw that a new set of clothing had been laid out for him. Acutely sensing his own nudity, Seishirou moved swiftly to don the set of undergarments. The door opened suddenly.
"Oh! Gomenasai, Seishirou-san." Kasumi Karen stood in the doorway and didn't look the least bit the supplicant. Seishirou faced the wall and dressed in silence. "They're your clothes, if you couldn't tell. I entered your apartment and helped myself to a set. You look sharp in a suit, Sakurazuka-san, but you could use some variety." She continued to watch him, and he finished the tie before staring at her.
"I'm almost curious as to why I'm not dead," he said smoothly, smoothing his hair over with one hand. He had been bathed too, in the recent past. The marks of /Kamui's/ wrath had faded from his skin, but the memories were still fresh. He sniffed the air lightlyÉ Soap
"You have the young Sumeragi to thank for that, ironically enough. For as poorly as you treat him, he wouldn't let Shiro-kun kill you. Perhaps that was one of the deeper insults you could have thrown at both of them, Sakurazuka-san," Kasumi-san said quietly, an edge of steel in her voice. "In any case, you are free to leave whenever you choose. But I wouldn't leave without talking to at least one of two people." With that, she stalked off. Such temperamental and fiery beauty. How endearing.
Sakurazuka Seishirou glanced at the curtains and closed the door. Dropping deep within himself, he began to meditate. As his mind wandered about the dreamscape, the city of Tokyo grew dark and busy, but a reticent silence pervaded the Clamp Campus.
His door opened. Without needing to open his eyes, Seishirou knew that it was the young Shirou Kamui. Such emotion, such anger, such raw power. That of the onmyouji was trained and channeled, but that of Kamui was naked and brutally powerful. It was just beneath the surface. Tread carefully, Seishirou.
"What can I do for you, Kamui-kun," Seishirou said pleasantly. He opened his eyes, moved from his place on the floor to lounge predatorily in another chair.
"I'm going to ask you some questions. You will answer." The reply was short irritable, and remarkably uncertain.
"Of course, Kamui-kun."
To Seishirou's utter surprise, the implacable face softened. "What did Fuuma do to you?
So obvious. So blunt. Like his counterpart, but fragile and vulnerable. Seishirou found himself unwilling to exploit this seeming weakness in the young Kamui; odd, considering how unlikely it was for him to leave this complex alive. For the first time since regaining consciousness, Seishirou considered hisÉ connection to /Kamui/. Surely the boy had had some experiences with his former friend, not all of them unpleasant. He sighed. What? I never sigh "Do I detect a hint of compassion, Kamui-kun?" The boy said nothing. Soka. /Kamui/ and I had a little misunderstanding. I don't expect any of you to get in the way."
"Of what?
"What's to come. Fate, if you want to call it that.
"Nothing can control your destiny if you choose for yourself, Sakurazuka-san.
"That's odd coming from you, Kamui. But in this case, I have chosen." He put on his glasses. "What will you do, Kamui-kun, when the time comes? Do you have the strength of will to kill Fuuma?" Kamui looked startled at the thought, as if it hadn't occurred to him. "Listen carefully to words, Kamui-kun. I have no interest in the Battle. Only in a person, who currently isn't here. Do tell him I said hello?
The air suddenly grew cold and Seishirou could barely deflect the pulsing power of KamuiÉ The feeling of helplessness was beginning to annoy him, but he couldn't do anything. After all, isn't that what helpless is? For the second time in a week, he found himself pinned against the wall by /Kamui/.
"Stay away from Subaru." The words were bit out. One. By. One. Deadly. Seishirou could almost taste the fear. How rare.
"I think I've exhausted my welcome here. Will you let me leave?" Kamui stepped aside, and Seishirou walked out of the room with the dust of the wall disappearing from his clothes. Ignoring the small gasps and stares of the other Seals, especially that of the young girl with the god-dog who so delicately touched him before, he walked out of the house into the night.
"Seishirou-san." A voice, barely above a whisper, but enough. Seishirou turned, like an owner being pulled by a leash. Subaru.
"I don't believe I've thanked you for saving my life, Subaru-kun." The old game, the wry smile, the hidden meanings, and always the death of Hinoto hanging over like a dormant storm.
Subaru said nothing, only looked down at his feet.
"You're getting too pale, hmm? You should eat more." A flicker of sakura, a scent of cherry blossoms. The maboroshi dropped in around them. Seishirou took a cigarette from his pocket. Subaru lit it soundlessly. Snick-fwoosh. Puff. There was no danger here. "Tell me Subaru-kun, what's on your mind?
"Why did you come here?
"To see you, of course.
Doushite? You were bleeding all over, injured. Any one of us should have killed you.
"But you didn't. And now you won't get the chance." The green eyes looked startled, then hardened. Subaru took a step backwards and his hand slipped into his pocket. "That's not what I meant. And I'm not going to play right now.
"Seishirou-san. Ore-wa
"Shhh, Subaru-kun. You don't need to say anything. You'll blush if you do.
Demo" his voice sounded increasingly urgent. Seishirou smiled.
"You're cold, Subaru-kun. Go back inside." Seishirou took off his coat and proffered it to the stolid teenager in front of him. And without further ado, turned his back on Subaru and walked alone into the night.
*****
bAuthor's Note/b Kind of a dry chapter, I admitÉ I'm out of practice and out of character. This will come to a climax soon, I promise.