Chapter five: The exposition of loneliness.
T: Before I begin I would like to say that as far as I'm concerned you spell Seishrio's name as such because that is the version I have in my translated copy of Tokyo. Apparently you can also spell it with a u on the end, but as I've come five chapters in without the u I'm afraid it's staying out. However, I concede that I had Sorata's name spelt incorrectly and so I will change it here!
Anyway, warnings remain the same with the addition for this chapter alone of a unique it's all exposition warning!
Clamp owns it all!
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Sorata was still there when he came back to himself and though the monk must have questions he instead allowed Kamui the time to recuperate his magic.
"He was not there" He explained eventually.
"He might have separated his consciousness from his body."
"No. It was Fuuma."
"How can you be so certain?"
"The tree's consciousness was there still and it showed me what had happened before Subaru collapsed." Kamui replied.
Aware that there was still a little more that Sorata needed to know, Kamui then proceeded to fill in the gaps as best as he could.
The monk shook his head as Kamui conclude the tale,
"Talking to Fuuma will not help, Kamui. He has done this to trap you, that much is clear."
"That is one possibility. Another is that he granted Subaru's wish and that my involvement is co-incidental.
"Yet why would he willingly send his Sakurazukamori back into the past? Why when he could ensure that Fuuma gain no influence over either himself or the previous holder of that title?" Kamui mused.
"When the first Sakurazukamori fell another came to take his place. Perhaps if neither Subaru nor the other Sakurazukamori came into being another, stronger, individual would take their place." Sorata replied, before, as Subaru had previously, he came to a much more likely conclusion.
"He could also have done it for another reason. Subaru was destined to fight the Sakurazukamori, but, if he chose to live with his enemy his clan would turn him out.
"We would, therefore, no longer meet him, you would be stranded for eternity within your heart and Fuuma would have an easy victory in his hands."
"Perhaps. The only way I can know for sure is to talk to Fuuma. If he did do it to ensure that possibility then risking my life will mean nothing, for soon enough I shall be trapped again within my heart.
"If he fulfilled Subaru's wish simply because he had to…that would be a selfless act, Sorata and that would mean the true Fuuma is there still within him."
"Kamui…"
"I do not need you to tell me how hopeless or stupid that idea is, Sorata. I already know."
"Kamui I trust you and your judgment, if you feel this is the only way then I shall protect you."
"Thank you, Sorata."
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Hokuto insisted that he sit down when he eventually came home and then she simply stared at him until he cracked and told her everything.
"So we have three very clear problems. Number one: You have no idea how or when Sei-chan fell in love with you. He does or will love you Subaru, have no doubt of that. Number two: With your childhood content Kamui will have no-one to call him back and finally, number three: You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."
"Hokuto-chan, I…"
"Oh not you don't, Subaru Sumeragi! I can see that years without me have made you twice the mope you used to be and it's going to take al my happiness to win you back again.
"Dealing with these problems one at a time, it seems clear that, One: This new bet with Sei-chan will allow you time to cover all the bases as far as winning his heart goes. Two: The world will compensate for your loss and find someone else to help Kamui. Three: You need to learn to let go." She punctuated the lecture with a hug and for the first time since he had returned to this time period he felt as though he belonged here.
"Thank you, Hokuto."
"I am happy if you are happy; Subaru and so do us both a favour and win Sei-chan over."
"How?" It was an enquiry more for himself than his sister, yet Hokuto took it as another moment of self-doubt and with a bright smile supplied,
"Seduce him."
Subaru was ashamed to feel himself redden at that suggestion, more because the reaction showed how naïve he was still in some matters, than because he had become embarrassed.
Hokuto chuckled heartily to herself before she said,
"Sweet innocence was not quite enough for a love confession and it was only when you grew up a little that Sei-chan showed evident interest.
"We also need him to see that you are his equal, Subaru and so seduction is the only option.
"Thankfully we can skip step one of any good seduction: getting to know your beloved inside and out. After all, you did become him in a really creepy sense and thus know practically all there is to know about him.
"That takes us nicely into step two: Let you beloved know all there is to know about you. I suggest a whirlwind of dates and some sharper, tighter clothes to go with the new you."
"The new me sounds expensive, Hokuto-chan, especially as I want to pay my way through school."
"Subaru, I get more than enough money from the family to support myself and buy you a meal out every now and again.
"But to ease your guilt you can re-pay my money once you have a job, or when Obaachan comes to her senses and takes you back."
Of course Hokuto would not take no for an answer and thus committing himself to this plan he asked a very logical question,
"Where should we go?"
"To begin with I would say small, private restaurants and perhaps the occasional picnic for two. Once you and Sei-chan feel comfortable around one another and have released you tension, then you can start going to some of the more romantic locals."
He wondered why they were better starting off in the smaller locations and what Hokuto had meant by 'released your tension', but he knew his sister would merely laugh him off if he asked and thus he retained his silence.
"It seems that I shall have to be the one to instigate these dates for the moment. After all if you are still shy enough to blush about the idea of seduction then you will certainly not have the backbone to ask Sei-chan out yourself."
His smile crumbled a little at that, after all Hokuto had been right when she had said that his old self had not interested Seishiro and yet the man he had become in the year of destiny had never been anything other than a veneer for his weaker self.
He was going to have to grow if he wanted this victory.
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T: Well that's that chapter out of the way at least! Things get back to a more usual vein in the next chapter, which I'll put up tomorrow. Until then R+R