Okay, I know nothing about the history of Japan except what I dug up via Google, so if it's wrong, let me know... I'm guessing the scroll was written in 1615, which is twelve years after the start of the isolationist Edo period. Why 1615? Because Subaru's the 13th clan head, and Edo is cool.

"Senkari" is spelled with the "sen" kanji of "uranai", divination, and the complex "ken" kanji of "kengen", power and authority. I thought his political name should have something to do with these two concepts.







Omina Sol Temperat - Chapter 3



Several days passed like this. When Subaru had jobs, he returned from them shortly after dawn, pre-soaking his laundry in a bizarre, yet effective, mix of cold club soda and shampoo. The nights he didn't have a job he spent deciphering the ancient texts, which he enjoyed, despite the tedious nature of the assignment. He'd often thought that translation was more his forte than murder.

Having Fuuma around meant nothing more than regular meals and less takeout, even if the boy would only cook anything that had directions on the side of the box. Fuuma had said something about proper nutrition and anemia, and had left a bottle of vitamin supplements next to his keys. He hadn't said anything since, so Subaru took one nightly.

He drew a glass of water from the sink and swallowed.

Fuuma was napping on the couch, even though it was only nine in the evening, and Subaru, taking the remote, flipped the television off to conserve power. Subaru realized that the former Dragon of Earth really looked innocent like this. He was breathing shallowly and evenly.

Subaru sat on the far cushion. He unlaced the heavy boots – they would be uncomfortable if Fuuma slept here for very long. Sure enough, the white socks were creased awkwardly. Suabru paired the boots on the floor and reached to massage a foot in his lap.

Fuuma shifted, exhaling.

Subaru stopped, blinking, horrified. He couldn't remember why he'd started caressing Monou-kun's foot like that. He stood, he had work to do.



The scroll sent to him from Grandmother was in surprisingly good condition for its age. The silk was becoming discolored, but no sections of the text were missing. He just hoped the humidity of Tokyo's air wouldn't destroy it, now that it was unsealed and exposed.

The script style was ancient, probably of the late Hsing-shu style: it was difficult to pick out individual strokes, as gorgeous and harmonious as they were together. Subaru frowned, biting his lip, copying the character to a legal notepad on his knee. Each line of twelve characters took an hour or more to translate.

From time to time, he had a sudden flash of magical insight. He'd tried using Onmyoujyutsu to decipher all of the text, but that hadn't worked, so he sat tediously copying the ancient Chinese characters and referencing a dictionary. It was hit-and-miss, but generally just miss. Nights like tonight were particularly frustrating.

After a full year and a half, he was nearing the end of the passage. He'd be able to write a formal translation to send to Grandmother soon. Subaru hadn't planned what to do with his time once the scroll translation was complete; he supposed he'd need something else to preoccupy himself with if he wanted to keep his sanity.

Subaru rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand, and taking a break, rewound the scroll and read the opening passage. He'd found several mistakes in his first translation attempts. He'd found it helped to periodically re-read sections he hadn't looked at in a while.

--
In the Twelfth Year of the Edo Bakufu, under his royal Emperor Tokugawa Hidetada, Sumeragi Senkari, the First Leader of the Sumeragi line of the Onmyoudou, writing to the forordianed Master of Onmyoujyutsu whom shall participate in the Destined Day.

This document will be sealed only to open after the Destined Day, to be read should the world not perish, and is to be read only by the Sumeragi Order of Onmyoudou's surviving Clan Leader. This document contains record and prophecy of the division and reunification of the sects within the practice of Onmyoudou, and this document shall remain sealed and remain in the care of the Sumeragi family until the time of its reading, the information contained lost.

It has been prophecised that the nation will be in need of a Sumeragi Clan Leader to aid the Dragons of Heaven in protecting the world from destruction. The surviving Master of Onmyoudu, I humbly commend your contribution to the battle for the fate of the World. If prophecy and vision are correct, your skill, power, and sacrifices are great indeed.
--

'You have no idea,' he thought. 'You wouldn't be praising me if you could see me now, Senkari-sama.'

Subaru's stomach let out an undignified growl.

He re-rolled the scroll and padded to the kitchen to look for leftovers. Fuuma wouldn't have cooked anything if he were as tired as he looked, but at least he hadn't had an incident in the past few days. Subaru wasn't sure if he could deal with Fuuma's problems after all. Or for that matter, if Fuuma could deal with his misantrhropy. At least they weren't in each other's way.

There was nothing in the fridge, so Subaru pulled a blue box from the pantry shelf. He'd gotten the salted water boiling when he heard soft footsteps behind him.

"Oh, Sumeragi-san. I should have made something. I fell asleep instead."

"You're not my wife, Fuuma." He poured the noodles into the pot, along with a white pouch.

Fuuma grabbed two spoons and fished it out. "That's the cheese. It's in a waterproof package, lucky for guys like us."

"Oh."

When Subaru didn't glance up from the pot, Fuuma gave him a long look. Subaru drained the noodles into the sink.

"You're working too hard, aren't you, Sumeragi-san."

Subaru huffed. "If you're going to act like my mother, you might as well call me by my first name."

"Ahh… alright, Subaru… kun?"

Fuuma had never seen anyone wilt.

"Please… just 'Subaru', if you're going to call me anything."

Fuuma wanted to apologize, but he wasn't sure what for. He opened his mouth several times. "…Subaru."

"Now what?" He sounded hollow, as if he overbalanced for annoyance.

"Ah, suman… Thank you for taking off my shoes, earlier."

Subaru mashed the butter into the noodles, stirring more vigorously than the directions called for. "Mm."

Fuuma wanted to ask what was bothering his host, but knew pushing him to speak was a very bad idea. He set the small table with two bowls and forks. "Is Sprite okay? Tea's better, but it's after midnight and it's caffeinated, and I have class in the morning."

"I don't care."

Subaru didn't much want to eat with the boy, but putting up resistance would be too troublesome.

The pair sat at the low table to eat Macaroni and cheese.

"Itadakimasu."

They ate in silence until Fuuma couldn't bear it any longer. Subaru hadn't given him any answers, and would probably avoid him for another week if given the chance.

"Subaru."

"Yes?"

"Do you know anything about why I was in Shinjuku?

Subaru paused with the fork halfway to his mouth.

"Even a guess?! Subaru, I need to know."

"I haven't thought much about it, and even if I had, there's not much information to go on. I'm afraid I can't tell you much."

"That's fine."

Subaru closed his eyes and inhaled.

"You won't like this."

Fuuma's fork hit the bowl. "Just tell me, damn it. You're the only person who can!" He caught himself and felt embarrassed. "Sorry. I'm just… you're my only lifeline." He stared into his noodles.

Long moments passed.

"Shinjuku was a Kekkai protecting Tokyo, so you're naturally drawn to it."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"You were a destructive Kamui for a very long time. Generally, that person is never intended to survive past the battle, regardless of the outcome. Yet you are alive." He paused, allowing Fuuma to absorb the information. "Your blackouts might be the Dragon of Earth's Kamui breaking free in your consciousness."

Fuuma sat back. "I'm not… I'm not him anymore," he dropped to a whisper. "because I traded with…" Fuuma bit off the end if his thought. 'And Kamui...'

"I think you're not fully recovered from being the Dragon of Earth's Kamui. I also think they're not really 'blackouts' like you believe them to be."

Fuuma could only poke at the runny yellow noodles. "Then what?"

"You're not allowed to feel regret, are you?"

His hand stopped in mid-poke.

"I see."

"I suppose you want to object on the grounds of duality, don't you? It's not impossible to be both good… and evil… at once. But keep in mind, this is just a theory."

"So because I'm not dead, I'm destroying things that had to do with 1999. Wonderful." He sipped his soda. "But doesn't that put you in danger, too?"

Subaru smiled, distantly. With the power he had before now doubled with the power of Seishirou-san's old position, he was probably the most magically gifted person in the world, if not in all of history.

"No, I think I can take care of myself."

Fuuma chortled at that.

"What?" Subaru blinked. He hadn't said anything funny.

Fuuma tried to hide his laughter in his glass. "You can't even make mac-and-cheese without messing it up, Subaru."

Subaru wrinkled his nose, then sighed. "It's pretty disgusting, isn't it."

"Saitei dazo. I think I'll stick around just to make sure you don't poison yourself some day."

Subaru rolled his eyes. "Thanks." He checked his watch, noting the time. "It's pretty late, so you'd better actually make it to bed this time."

Fuuma stood, stretching. "You're going to keep working? This late?"

"Aah."

"Good luck, then. I'll check in with you before I leave for classes."

"Fuuma?" At Subaru's call, the boy halted, swinging his head around the corner. Subaru smiled. "Thanks. Not just for making sure I'm alright, but for taking this well, and giving me company."

"Hai, hai. We all know I'm just a pathetic leach on your resources." He winked, disappearing.

Subaru shook his head and cleared the table. Maybe he wouldn't avoid the kid quite so much in the future. Something in his attitude reminded him of Hokuto's fresh optimism.

And he realized it'd been a long time since he'd heard anyone laugh.