((Author's Notes - Okay, this one may seem a little random, but deal with it. x.x'' I wrote it at about midnight... So bear with me! Probably gonna be a one-shot fic...))
Disclaimer - I don't own anything in this fic. CLAMP does. But one day... oh yes... one day, they will all be mine... -Cackles evilly-
Kowaru
Part I
They do not see him. Or, more correctly, they do not want to see him. This ragged, broken thing, lying on the grass. Non would want to see him, and none would care to ask him what he is doing there. The man is disgusted with himself for allowing himself to lie here. Always so broken, though he would not show it.
Disgusting, that he had let the pathetic Subaru-kun win. Of course, he knew if he let his guard down, the Sumeragi would beat him. Subaru had the power. But, he supposed, he had never expected Subaru to win. Or, more accurately, he had never expected Subaru to try to win. But here he was. Lying on the grass, in Ueno Park, curled up under the sakura like some kind of lovesick child. Only, lovesick children were not covered in blood. Lovesick children were not choking on their own words as they tried to cast a spell. He wanted to be away from here. Away, into the maboroshi, to hide from the world. He hated the word, right now. Hated it and despised all in it. And, that was an odd thing, for Sakurazuka Seishirou did not normally hate. He laughed, and he disrespected, and he cast-off, but he never hated. Hate was for lesser people; people who could not control their emotions. Hate was for people like his Subaru-kun, weaker people that would let their emotions control themselves and manifest themselves in violent, rash actions. But maybe, the Sakurazukamori mused, such rash, erratic actions were not entirely unfound. After all, which one of the lovers was the one bleeding? Which one was the one bearing critical wounds, that would probably be the death of him?
Oh yes, Seishirou knew that his death might be near. He daren't hope that he would be found by some do-gooder, and taken to a hospital of some kind. Or, rather, he didn't care. He knew, as soon as the 1999 debacle was started, that he would probably die in the middle of it. But then, very few things brought him pleasure anymore. Very few. Except one. Subaru-kun would be the life and death of him, at this rate.
And, what a song their romance would make! Despite himself, Seishirou found a small smile pulling at the edges of his bloodstained lips, and his eyes opened a fraction. Oh yes, he could see it now. Writers and poets would have a field day, should any find out and believe their twisted love affair. But Seishirou didn't care. Let them write their songs and stories; all he cared about was Subaru-kun. Their romance might be twisted, and burned, and dead, but he still wished for Subaru. Even if the Sumeragi would only laugh at him, or perhaps watch in mute silence, perhaps with a tear in his eyes; Seishirou wanted him here. After all, is it not the killer's privilege to watch his quarry die? It is more than a privilage; it is an honor. And, if anything, Seishirou deserved it.
But wait... here we are. This familiar cold. Now, the maboroshi. The sakura was laughing at him, yet pitying him also. How odd, that the tree should have such complex emotions. Even as he lay there, mute, he felt bruising wood manacles creep around his wrists. Pulling him, with a slightly jarring feel, Seishirou already knew what the tree intended. He was to be taken into the sakura barrow, to stay forever with the souls he had sealed there. It was his punishment, he supposed, for the deaths he had caused and committed. His head touched the trunk of the tree, and he closed his eyes yet again, waiting for the shooting pain he knew would be attending him soon. Already, he could feel the feather-light touch of the sakura's petals, brushing over the potentially-fatal wound in his shoulder.
Even in this situation, the Sakurazukamori had to admire his Subaru-kun's work. The hole was so deep; it had almost severed his arm. And now, the left arm hung there, prone and useless. The sakura quivered with anticipation, and the wood pulled back, preparing for that fatal thrust into the wound that Seishirou knew would be pain beyond pain.
(::Lani:: Aha. Now, if I had my way, i'd stop it right here. But then you wouldn't forgive me...)
But then...
"Stop!"
Such an achingly familar voice, that. But then, Subaru-kun couldn't be here. The onmyouji was long-gone. Probably sleeping, or crying. He didn't know if Subaru was the one for drinking, the Sakurazukamori mused absently. But, what was this? The burning warmth of a spell, brushing past his shoulder. A shiver from the sakura, and the petalled wood withdrew. Now, warm hands on his shoulders, pulling him back from his death. This was too much. He had to open his eyes; death was a trickster, it seemed. Forcing his eyelids apart, Seishirou stared long and hard at the man holding him.
"...S-subaru...-kun...? What are.... you.... doing... here....?"
The onmyouji looked awful. Beautiful green eyes were red from crying, and the tears were still coming. He didn't seem to be able to stop them. The white trenchcoat, still red from Seishirou and Subaru's mingled blood from the fight. How foolish, he must have not changed his clothes yet. Blinking sedately, Seishirou felt oddly calm.
"...Seishirou-san!" Subaru pulled him close, gentle so now to jar the arm, and buried his tearful face into his lover's neck. Warm tears flowed into the already-soaked fabric of Seishirou's shirt. "...T-the..." Subaru seemed to be having trouble forming his words, "...the bet... isn't.... over yet...!" Pulling back, Subaru's face was wet with blood and tears. He seemed almost hysterical, but keeping his fractured emotions under control. Good, the boy was learning. "You still have... to kill me....! A-and... if you dare... die on me-...!"
This was too much. The boy had worked himself up into a frenzy. Raising his still-intact hand, he grazed bloody fingers over Subaru's eyes, wiping away his tears with a bloody thumb, "...Stop... crying. This is... what you... want."
For a moment, Subaru seemed to calm down. Then, something strange happened. The next sob caught in his throat, and he swallowed it with a jarring breath. Bringing his arms around him, he pulled Seishirou into his arms, standing up. Cradling the man to his chest, with a little trouble, it seemed, he turned. Despite himself, Seishirou found himself confused. But, he had no time to question it. For, just as he saw the darkness of the maboroshi fade away, Seishirou passed out cold.
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.:Lani:. Well, here's the first chaptor, done. What do you guys think?
.:Seishirou:. You turned me into a wimp!!
.:Subaru:. ...I am a bit OOC, I must admit...
.:Lani:. ...Why do I bother asking for your opinions?
.:Seishirou:. Because, if you didn't, i'd feed you to the sakura.
.:Lani:. ...Good point.
.:Subaru:. Damn straight.
.:Lani:. No you aren't!
.:Seishirou:. ...Do you have a death wish?
.:Lani:. ...Let's just go write the next part, hai?
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