Tears

by Katarik

For the "Crying" challenge at togakushishrine. Sorata smells like tears, and Arashi doesn't like it. Sorashi can be inferred, if you so choose. One-shot.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sorata, Arashi, or X in general; they belong to CLAMP. Nor am I making any money off this work.

Sorata smells like tears.

It's the first thing Arashi notices this morning, and it disturbs her greatly. The concept of Sorata crying is profoundly…wrong and pure instinct has Arashi wanting to confront him, to find what has upset him and destroy it so that Sorata will laugh again without the taint of sorrow on him.

But street-child though she once was, Arashi is shrine to the core. To so interfere in the life of a fellow dedicate is completely against all laws and an utter breach of propriety into the bargain. So Arashi merely nods a greeting, and sips her tea, and turns away from Sorata's cries of "Nee-san!" and fervent protestations of love.

But Sorata still smells like tears, and the tea tastes of grief.

It's remarkably distracting.