© 2002 Copyright Original Storyline by Gold (E-mail: )
Disclaimer: CLAMP drew X/1999 and Tokyo Babylon. CLAMP created those characters. I just took 'em and played with 'em.

This one is for Skuld-chan.

Warning in advance: introduction of familiar names from the past.

After The Fact (Version 3.0)
Part 3: Frost On The Sakura

The Sumeragi twins weren't sure when things began to change. Perhaps it was because Seishirou was growing older; perhaps it was because they were growing older and new people had begun entering their lives. People like Kuzuki Kakyou, Shirou Kamui, Monou Fuuma, Segawa Keiichi, Kishuu Arata and Nekoi Yuzuriha had turned up in their lives and became their new friends. The Sumeragi twins had just entered middle school by then and Hokuto had discovered boys…or perhaps it was the other way round. The same thing happened for Subaru, who was constantly hounded by girls who were not even of his own acquaintance. Naturally, their new friends were all introduced to Seishirou, who acted as something of a vetting procedure and was very impressive, all six foot two of college student. Hokuto and Subaru found themselves frequently being accosted by local high school girls and boys who wanted them to pass such-and-such a thing to Sakurazaka-san or Sakurazaka-sempai, who was the tall, handsome guy with the dark hair, cool tan and amazing smile, and who was far and away one of the hottest guys they had ever seen and a college student to boot, blah, blah, blah…

But Seishirou's smile was rare now and his eyes seemed haunted. There were distinct shadows under those eyes and the twins rarely saw him as they moved higher in middle school and Seishirou became a very senior college student indeed.

"Sei-chan, why don't you come to see us more often?" asked Hokuto sternly one sunny afternoon, on the rare occasion that she and Subaru managed to force Seishirou to spend a day with them.

This day, they were picnicking at Ueno Park, near the very spot where Seishirou had saved their lives some fourteen years ago. Seishirou, for some obscure, unexplained reason, had chosen as their picnic site a sakura tree that was large and ponderous with age. Its trunk and branches were old and gnarled, but had the distinctive quality of majesty befitting something so ancient and beautiful. Rumour had it that this tree was thousands of years old. Now they were seated under the branches, sakura petals and green leaves falling all round them at the slightest breath of a passing breeze.

Seishirou was leaning comfortably against the trunk, occasionally turning to rest one cheek against it in a gesture of near affection. "Homework," he answered briefly as he reached for the flask of hot tea.

The tone of his voice brooked an end to the discussion and there was a little silence. Then a quiet voice broke it.

"Seishirou-san…are you—are you sleeping well?"

Seishirou blinked in surprise and risked a quick glance at Subaru, whose anxious green eyes were fixed disconcertingly on his face. "Sleeping well?" echoed Seishirou stupidly.

Subaru flushed under the glance, but kept his eyes on Seishirou, who was now looking everywhere but at him. "Your roommate, Kigai-san…he said you were still having nightmares…and—and you have shadows under your eyes…"

Seishirou's jaw hardened slightly and one hand, the hand that could not be seen by Subaru or Hokuto, curled into a tight fist, the bones of the knuckles blazing white as the hand lay hidden amidst the green grass. But he did not answer.

Hokuto peered at Seishirou. "It's more than that," she said decisively. She put her head on one side and eyed him speculatively. Then she clapped her hands suddenly, exclaiming, "Aha! You're interested in someone, aren't you? And now you're too busy to come and see Subaru and me! Look at the way you're moping! Oh, I always knew the day would come when you'd abandon us for—"

Seishirou frowned a little, cutting her off. "Nonsense, Hokuto-chan." He carefully poured himself a cup of tea. Then he swiftly turned the tables. It was a skill he still possessed, after a thousand-odd years…"On the other hand, I hear you're becoming very good friends with Kuzuki Kakyou." He looked at Hokuto, amber-golden eyes stern. "You're still too young to date and I'm going to see Kuzuki-san if I find out he's been seeing you on the sly." A sudden smile twitched at his lips as he waited for Hokuto to respond.

Hokuto did not disappoint, folding her arms and glared at Seishirou's smiling face. "My parents won't let me date until I'm sixteen and I've two more years to go, and I don't need you to remind me, Sei-chan." A suddenly sly smile appeared on her pretty face and her eyes lit up with a wicked gleam. "In the meantime, I feel it my duty, Sei-chan, to find you a girlfriend or boyfriend, whichever you prefer!" She wiggled her eyebrows. "Since you swear you have none, and you're getting old, I, as your closest female friend, have a duty to find you one!"

"Ah," murmured Seishirou, raising his eyebrows comically. "Oh, dear me."

Hokuto ignored him. "And the first candidate is none other than Subaru!" she proclaimed in clarion tones, shooting one arm out and collaring her brother.

"H-h-hokuto-chan!!!" cried Subaru, turning several shades of red all at once before settling on a bright, very visible tomato red.

Hokuto merely looked at her furiously blushing brother with mischief shining in her eyes. "Well, I know for a fact that you think Sei-chan is absolutely gorgeous and the most wonderful person in the whole, wide world!" she announced, still keeping a firm hold on the struggling Subaru. She flashed a wide grin at Sei-chan. "Well? What do you think?"

Seishirou's brief laugh was strangely bittersweet. "Hokuto-chan…you never change, do you?"

Startled, Hokuto blinked and released Subaru. She had never heard Seishirou use that slightly brittle tone of voice before. She leaned forward suddenly, almost pushing her nose into his cup of tea. For the first time, she regarded him seriously. "Sei-chan, what's wrong?"

Seishirou jerked back and nearly spilt his tea. "Nothing," he said sharply, suddenly and unreasonably afraid that he would hurt her. His grip on the harmless teacup tightened as he pressed himself back against the tree.

"Seishirou-san…those dreams are bothering you, aren't they?" said Subaru suddenly, forgetting the intensity of his embarrassment. "I know you haven't been sleeping well—you look tired out," he ended quietly, eyes wide and filled with anxiety.

"It's just the homework," Seishirou answered softly, glancing quickly at Subaru and then looking away. "Look, let's not talk about this anymore, please." He leaned back against the tree again, tilting back his head to look up into the branches.

Subaru stared at the older boy, wondering why it seemed so right to see Seishirou under a sakura tree, petals blowing all around him. He also wondered why the sight seemed to hurt so much and so deeply, like an ancient, poignantly familiar ache. True, he did have a bit of a crush on Seishirou—he always had—but it didn't square with the depth of the almost despairing emotion that twisted inside him whenever he looked at the handsome, black-haired, amber-eyed youth, sitting under the sakura tree, surrounded by tiny, floating pink petals on the breeze.

There was something very familiar and heartrending about that picture…

Then Seishirou-san turned around with that dear smile of his, and it seemed that everything was all right, except for the twinge at Subaru's heart, that wouldn't go away…