Disclaimer - I own absolutely nothing. -Cries in the corner- Oh no... just imagine if I owned the United States. If I won the elections... then... I'd make all the moderately hot guys in America put on orgies for public viewing. Oh, and i'd make Gackt my vice-president. Just so I could have the fun of staring at him every day and accidentally-on-purpose walking into his bedroom/shower cubicle in the mornings... Anyway... going off track... I don't own anything in this fic.
Shigi
Part IV
Subaru was confused. And slightly scared. Wondering vaguely why he hadn't taken the time to pick up his cigarette before escaping out of his own flat, he didn't know.
Because he's there.
Of course, he knew the answer. Being with Seishirou made him uncomfortable, but being so intimately close with the assassin made him more uncomfortable still. His hands, buried deep in the pockets of the flowing white trenchcoat, twitched slightly. Oh, he was dying for a cigarette. But, typically, he hadn't thought to grab either the precious cancer sticks or even his wallet. Damn Seishirou.
Frowning, Subaru raised a gloved hand to his forehead, attempting vaguely to remember what had happened. The last thing he remembered, he was curled up in Seishirou's arms on the bathroom floor, and Seishirou had kissed him. Just a passing kiss, of course, but it had been enough to make the Sumeragi feel weak all over. Damn you, Sakurazukamori.
Sakurazukamori... that title sounded odd when applied to his Seishirou-san. He remembered, when he was just a child, training with his grandmother, she had once told him a story about the Sakurazuka clan. Of course, how surprised he had been when he headed to Tokyo at the tender age of sixteen and had met the heir to the Sakurazuka clan.
The heir.
At least, that was what Seishirou had led him to believe. That he was merely the heir to an old onmyouji clan, just as Subaru was the current head of an ancient onmyouji clan. He could have grasped that.
What Seishoru, and his grandmother, failed to mention was the Sakura. The beautiful pink tree to which the Sakurazukamori had to feed the souls and blood of his or her victims to, in order to sustain their powers. Neglected to tell him that the Sakurazukamori must kill human beings whenever he or she can. Not only that, but that the Sakurazukamori does not feel remorse for killing, or indeed feel anything at all. Some people say that neglecting to tell vital information is the same as lying.
Subaru was prone to agree.
Up until this moment, in his silent musings, the Sumeragi's eyes had been to the ground. Now, he was surprised to find, as he finally focused his sight, that he was looking at green grass. Slowly, something seemed to give in the Sumeragi's mind and slowly, his bottom lip quivering, he raised his gaze.
Oh no... Why do my feet always bring me here whenever I'm not paying attention?
The Sakura loomed over him, imposing and massively beautiful, as always. Despite himself, Subaru felt himself shiver. She would be in there somewhere. Perhaps. His other half, so to speak. Strange, that old cliche, of there being someone who makes you feel whole. Entire. For him, that had been his sister. Now that she was gone, there was a kind of empty space inside him. A gap in the puzzle where another piece was supposed to fit. A huge piece. Like... one quarter of the puzzle.
Hokuto had made up one quarter of Subaru, it seemed. But Seishirou... Seishirou didn't make up any part of him. Seishirou was... separate.
Seishirou was the one who held him. Enveloped him, almost. Covered him.
Maybe, if they were so intricately close, that was why he always came here.
Again, the Sumeragi's dark, somewhat dead green eyes raised to the Sakura and it seemed to laugh at him. An impromptu gust of wind caught the petals and shook them, raining them down on the silent Sumeragi like rain or snow. Beautiful, bloodstained snow.
...Oh my darling Keeper, master and sustainer of life as I know it...
'Arrogant as always. What do you want?'
...Charming...
'Cut the crap. I'm not in the mood. What do you want?'
...Your darling plaything is here...
'...Stop talking in riddles.'
...The Sumeragi is here...
'...'Here'...?'
...In the park....
'Oh? Well that's-... what?!'
...It's been a while since I last saw him. Pretty little thing, I must admit...
'What's he doing there? He isn't trying to-...'
...Exorcist me? I doubt it. No, I believe he was just wandering and turned up here...
'...Interesting....'
...Immensely. What would you like me to do?...
'....Detain him.'
...May I ask why, oh arrogant one?...
'I have some plans. Take him into your maboroshi and hold him for a while. Talk to him'
...And what do you suggest I say?...
'...Think of something. You're smart.'
The link closed. Slowly, Subaru began to realise something. Or, rather, thought he realised something. The tree was... alluring. No, more like drawing. Drawing him in. Unconciously, he had been taking small steps towards it. Finally, his hand raised and he set it on the trunk of the Sakura barrow.
Immediately, the world faded into darkness. And Subaru was sent back, reeling.
So many voices! How many victims did the Sakura house? There were a million or more spirits in the tree! How could someone with the same, maybe higher, spiritual level as Seishirou handle coming to such a place so often without being overwhelmed?
...He is naturally attuned to me...
"What?!" Spinning around, the Sumeragi felt a slight degree of panic as he realised that he had been unwittingly drawn into a maboroshi. Immediately, he reached into his sleeves for his ofuda, but a soft voice in his mind reprimanded him.
...They won't do any good. Besides, I just want to talk...
"W-what...?" Slowly, Subaru realised how primitive speaking out loud to an entity that was probably entirely spirit would be and forced himself to calm down.
"...Who... what are you?"
...Can't you guess? I am the Tree...
"So... you're... you are Seishirou-san's..."
...I prefer to think of myself as his partner...
"P-partner?!"
...In a strictly business sense, of course. Although I have been tempted...
"U-ugh...."
...And, of course, it is entirely possible for him to love me, and vice versa, but I do not think there is enough room in my darling Seishirou-san's heart for me...
"A-ack... A-...what?" ...What do you mean, 'what'...
"What do you mean, 'not enough room'...?"
...I mean exactly what I said...
"B-but..."
...Now, shall we divert the conversation to more of a general term of subject?...
"...What do you want me to do? Sit here talking about the weather with the reason Seishirou-san and I... why we can't...."
...Can't be together?...
"...Exactly."
...Because that's a lie...
"A-... A lie? What do you mean?"
...I have no objection whatsoever to you and my master being together. It would make a nice change from irritating, lovesick Seishirou. Perhaps if he were in a steady relationship, he would feed me more than the unsavoury rapists and murderers...
"..................."
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Moving back, Seishirou surveyed the table. Two candles, yes, ready to be lit. Plates, set for the meal cooking in the kitchen. A bottle of champagne in ice, keeping it chilled. Two handsome fluted crystal glasses. Perfect.
Smiling rather maliciously, he raised his hand slowly. One more thing that he knew would make it perfect, if make Subaru think he was a little twisted. Bringing his hand around, there was a soft flurry of light and the candles lit. In residue to the spell, there was a soft shower of sakura petals, that littered the table. With soft, delicate touches, he brushed them off the plates and out of the glasses. Now, the pink petals contrasted perfectly with the white tablecloth. Beautiful.
The red, cylindrical candles. Yes, now they were lit, it was perfect. A crisp beep from the kitchen told him the food was done.
'...Okay, send him back.'
...I do too much for you. Delaying your Sumeragi so you can set up a romantic dinner for two?...
'Haven't I told you to stop using me, like some kind of shiki'
...You have, but it doesn't mean I have to listen to you. The petals are a nice touch...
...I wasn't being sarcastic...
'That's a first. Just release him and send him back.'
The connection faded and Seishirou turned from the table, into the kitchen to sort out the food. Italian. The easy, yet sophisticated option.
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Suddenly, inexplicitly, the maboroshi faded. Subaru stumbled for a second, before blinking in the seeming-bright sunlight and looking around. Ueno Park. But why-...? He turned to the Tree for answers.
"What's with that? No warning?"
...Seishirou is done with his petty plan. Go back to the flat...
"I don't take orders from a soul-sucking tree"
...You do now. Go home, Sumeragi...
Figuring there was no point to arguing, Subaru turned away from the Tree, trailing down, out of the park. As he passed through the gates, glancing absently up at people heading for hanami and other mundane but magical pastimes, a soft swirl of pink petals raised to, it seemed, caress his shoulders and back lightly. Trying to quell the annoyance that rose up inside him at his gesture, he was surprised to find that he was not annoyed. On the contary, he was... pleased. And it disgusted him.
A few moments later, the Sumeragi keyed his way into his own apartment. Toeing off his shoes, he headed through to the main room.
And froze.
There, set out on the table, was a perfect meal, set for two. Pasta, with chicken, it seemed, in some kind of tomato sauce. The smell of it was making his mouth water.
"...S-Seishirou-san...?" The first thing out of his mouth, as Subaru took a few steps forward. And, as if like magic, the Sakurazukamori appeared from inside the kitchen. He held a glass of champagne. Smiling sweetly, in a way that seemed nothing short of scary on the Sakurazukamori's face, he leant over to kiss the Sumeragi's cheek, deposit the champagne in his hand and take off the long white coat in one smooth motion, leaving Subaru a little flustered and absently.
"S-S-Seishirou-san...! What... what's...." He gestured to the table, wordlessly,
"Just tonight's meal, Subaru-kun. Why, you aren't hungry?" So this was what the Tree meant... "Seishirou-san... you did this...?" "Yes. Come, sit down, have some pasta." Ushering him to a seat, he pulled it out for the Sumeragi and ushered him into it with little fuss.
Looking down at his plate of pasta, he raised his eyes to Seishirou's with a helpless, slight panicked look in his dark eyes.
Seishirou only smiled, supplying the shocked Sumeragi with a fork.
"...Bon appetite, Subaru-kun."
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.:Lani:. Awww!! The fluffyness!! The fluffyness!
.:Seishirou:. ...I wouldn't make a dish for Subaru-kun. Let alone that cheesy trick with the petals.
.:Lani:. Oh, come on! Stop being stupid!
.:Subaru:. I think it's cute.
.:Lani:. Thank you, Subaru-chan!
.:Seishirou:. ...Silly fangirl fluff....
.:Lani:. Damn right!!
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