8.Sanctuary.
T: Bah…got my chapters off which means Sunshine 60 is not until the next chapter…meh I'm sure you were dreading it anyway! Comixoriole…the ideas savage me in the middle of the night and won't let me go until I write them and then they abandon me two chapters from the end of the story and giggle when I get the ending wrong! Thank you for the compliment, by the way! Warnings the same and no I am not a member of Clamp.
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The tree had decided that they had need to talk sakura to Sakurazukamori and though he would rather have spent his morning with Subaru he knew it was best not to anger the tree and had acquiesced to its request.
His mother had taught him a great deal about the sakura before he had stolen her life away and he had known long before this day that the sakura could take a physical form if it wished.
However, his mother had talked always of a female form…of the tree as being the sister she had never had.
The figure before him now was male and old enough to be more as a father figure than a sibling or anything else.
'You look surprised, Seishiro-sama.'
"I thought you were a girl."
'For your mother I was a girl, Seishiro-sama. Setsuka needed a friend more than anything else in her life and thus I became Sakura-chan.
'You, however, needed a father figure in your life and thus I became this…' He gestures to his current form and Seishiro can not help but enquire,
"So as you can clearly no longer claim the name Sakura-chan, what should I call you?"
The tree regards him a moment and then he breaks into laughter,
'You are most certainly the rudest Sakurazukamori I have ever known and yet I like your fire…it is what makes you you.'
'As to my name…how about Yuki?' The tree enquired as it reached out for a falling blossom.
Seishiro saw what happened next with two different eyes…he saw the illusionary form of the tree catch the blossom in the palm of his hand and he saw also the blossom floating mid air, restrained by nothing other than the shear force of the sakura's…or rather Yuki's will.
"You called me here with a reason, I hope."
'Of course! God forbid I should interrupt snuggling time with your squeeze for something paltry!'
"Ah, so this is about him, is it?"
'Seishiro-sama, I shall not tell you to stop what you are attempting to do, shall not ask you to be as your mother before you and yet…
'Now that you love you are weak and thus I become weak also.'
"You believe that they shall use my care for Subaru to hurt me?"
'Yes and yet it is more than that, while you were hurting you stopped serving your Duty and though it was for but one day the fragile balance of Tokyo was affected.
'In these times I can not risk such a thing happening again and while you care freely for that other such a risk is very real.'
"Are you going to take my heart Yuki-kun?"
'No. I am, however, going to bind a portion of your magic to me so that should you again forget to feed me I can use that gift to sustain myself and recall to you what you have neglected.'
I am intrigued to know that he can perform such a magic, especially when he is little more than illusion, I allow the spell without objection aware that to do as such would be placing undue strain on our 'relationship' with one another.
There is a brief moment of silence and then I enquire,
"You perceive enough of the future that you know who would have been my replacement is that not correct, Yuki-kun."
'It is true enough…why.'
"Hokuto-chan seems to believe that should I have chosen as mother before me…should he have taken up the role of protecting you, he would have been the last…is that true?"
'Yes. Both because you are the only one whom he shall ever love truly and because the Dragons of Earth would have had their victory.'
"Then their victory is no longer assured…"
'It depends on the Kamui of the Dragons of Heaven. But then why should you care when you have chosen to step away from the war?'
"Subaru wishes to protect that Kamui…has invested a little of his happiness in the possibility of a victory for Heaven and thus though I will no longer fight I am concerned still in the outcome of the war."
'It shall be hard for you remain on the sidelines, Seishiro-sama, for you are strong and the Kamui of Earth shall not so easily lease you."
"Yet if I fight…"
'You shall be forced to fight the one you love. The path ahead shall be rocky and yet this you had already expected.'
"Indeed and the challenge that this choice presents shall be very amusing indeed."
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Seishiro is gone when I awake and though I knew that I should be worried, I find that I can not.
Find that I trust him to return again to my side.
As he had already discussed his intention to miss this days lessons Kamui's absence is a little more worrying and yet is quickly explained when I happen upon his note.
'Subaru-kun.
You looked so peaceful this morning that I could not bring myself to wake you.
I have gone for a bit of a think, but I will be back by the afternoon.
I will understand if you want to give up your place as a Dragon of Heaven, but I will not understand if you stay simply for my sake! I will want a proper reason if that is your decision.
Kamui'
The boy that I had met just under a year ago would never have written such a cheeky note and that fact brought a smile to my lips.
Kamui was growing up.
Did that mean that I could, at last, leave my attachment to him…could at last be free of this war and the last of my unwanted responsibilities?
No…of course it did not.
For though my part in the war had began as a fulfilment of my responsibilities it had progressed into something beyond that.
I had want to keep Kamui safe even though I knew now beyond doubt that he could look after himself…
Had want for him to find true happiness.
Yet he had asked me to give a reason other than himself if I decided to remain as a Dragon of Heaven and after another moment's contemplation I struck upon the perfect one.
I wished to protect Seishiro, wished to give us chance to learn to know one another beyond the fascination that had begun our relationship.
The only way I could assure that time was to fight for the future of this earth, was to fight as a dragon of Heaven.
Satisfied that this shall be an acceptable answer for Kamui I go about preparing lunch for the three of us.
Seishiro is the first to return and he brings with him a man who feels very familiar.
"Subaru, thus is Yuki-kun. Yuki-kun this is Subaru Sumeragi."
Touching this Yuki is as touching a spirit and I realise then why he is so familiar,
"You are the spirit within the sakura?"
'Indeed, but I would like to be 'Yuki' to you if you would.'
"Why?"
Yuki smiles and sketches the shape of the inverse pentagram on my hands,
'Because you are under my protection and because you are the one Seishiro-sama has chosen to love.'
"You are frightening him, Yuki-kun"
'Fine, fine, I'll behave!' He remarks as he takes a seat upon the sofa.
"I did not expect guests."
'I do not eat' He replies before he cease onto a book and begins to read.
Kamui comes home not much after that and is distracted enough that it takes him a few moments to register our guest.
His eyes then blank and he stills as though dead.
After a moment his eyes focus again and he bows politely,
"You must be Sakurazuka-kun's father."
'Yes, I am Yuki Sakurazuka.'
"And I am Kamui Shirou."
"Come and have some lunch, Kamui-kun."
"Is Sakurazuka-san not joining us?"
'I ate before I came out.'
Kamui seems to accept this for he comes to sit at the table and begins eating the meal that I have prepared.
"You seemed distracted when you came in, Kamui-kun…do you want to talk about it?"
"No, that is okay, Subaru." He remarked, his eyes drifting over in the direction of Yuki.
"You can trust father." Seishiro states, a small smile on his lips for the amusement of naming the tree as one of his kin.
"It is not that I do not trust Sakurazuka-san, but rather that it is not my problem to discuss.
"Hopefully you shall find out soon enough anyway." The boy remarks before he returns to eating his meal.
Once we have finished Kamui insists on aiding me with the dishes and after a few moments silently cleaning he leans towards me and enquires,
"Do you have something you wish to tell me?"
"Yes. I am remaining as part of the Dragons of Heaven."
"Because…"
"Because I wish to protect that which is dear to me…wish to protect the world that Seishiro lives in."
Kamui smiles at that and returns to the task at hand without further comment.
We are sat down and chatting amiably when there is a knock on the door.
I gain my feet and open it out to be greeted with my sister's face.
"Hokuto-chan, what brings you here at this hour?"
"Kamui-kun suggested I come and though at first I thought not to, I came to realise that he was right.
"Realised that you also had a right to know this secret now that it was no longer truly a secret."
"Hokuto-chan…you are confusing me."
"Forgive me." She remarks as she bows deeply and says, "Kibou."
A boy appears then from just out of view and bowing deeply he says,
"Hello, uncle, I am Kibou Kizuki and it is a pleasure to meet you."
There is enough of his mother in his features that I can not doubt his word and a smile gracing my lips I bow and say,
"Hello, nephew, I am Subaru Sumeragi."
Hokuto lifts her son up into the crook of her arm and shaking her head remarks,
"Your very first meeting and you greet one another as though you are strangers.
"I swear, Subaru, that if you teach Kibou to be all stuffy and polite like you were as a child…"
"Would you like to come in, Hokuto-chan?" That is Seishiro an amused smile present again upon his lips.
"Of course I would."
Kibou is soon playing chess with Yuki and assured that her son is settled Hokuto says,
"Kamui-kun saw me going to see Kibou and afraid that I might be after his Shinken he followed me.
"Of course he soon found out the truth and we talked a little of why I had kept Kibou's existence silent.
"He asked me to consider letting you see my son…letting you know this truth and as I have already told you I decided at first that to do as such was too much of a risk.
"Then I went 'home' and talked a little to my husband."
"Papa felt the same way as she did and so I was forced to intervene." Kibou remarks.
"Intervene?" I enquire.
"Kibou has, already, a strong gift both from Kakyo's side and from my own also.
"Thus not only can he walk within dreams invited but he can also break into them when he wishes."
"As I did this time…I know that mama and papa are trying to protect me, especially considering that there is a war going on, but I had a want to get to know my uncle."
"Of course at that rational this soft old heart melted." Hokuto states.
"Checkmate!"
Yuki looks shocked a moment and then he begins to laugh gently,
'Well he is most certainly of the Sumeragi bloodline.'
"I will take that as I compliment," I retort at which point Yuki breaks down completely, his laughter infectious enough so that soon everyone has joined him.
The rest of the evening passes in a similar vein until Hokuto remarks,
"Well I am all for liberal parenting but it is getting close to midnight and Ayaka-kun will have long since gone to bed."
"Mama it is Sunday tomorrow, is it not?"
"Yes?"
"Could I stay here with uncle Subaru tonight? I will even wring Ayaka-sensei myself tomorrow and explain."
"Subaru?" She enquired.
I looked to the child, to the plea clear in his vast amber eyes and sighing remark,
"You will have to sleep on the couch."
"Thank you!" The boy states as he bounds across the room and latches onto my stomach.
"He has to be back early tomorrow evening and make sure Ayaka-kun understands that I had no real part in this! Good night, Kibou."
"Good night, mama."
I show her to the door and she smiles,
"Despite how it seems I trust you with my son, Subaru. Take him somewhere nice tomorrow; buy him ice-cream or something." The smile then becomes a little crazed and leaning closer to me she says,
"Do not corrupt him to you ways! I would like lots of beautiful and fun loving grandchildren, after all!"
"I shall try and be quiet!" I counter before I close the door on her.
"I think that you may have traumatised her." Seishiro remarks.
'She was asking for it.'
"Perhaps you should be off as well, father."
'Of course, I would so hate to over stay my welcome. I will see you soon, Sei-chan.' Yuki remarks as he gains his feet and walks sedately out into the fresh air.
Both Seishiro and Kamui retire to bed not long after that, thus leaving me alone with my nephew.
"So, uncle Subaru, mama told me that you are the 13th head of the Clan."
"Yes?"
"Would you tell me a little of it?"
Again there is that pleading expression on the boys face and sighing I settled at his side.
"I had my first job when I was but ten. A little girl had fallen from a tree near to where I lived in Kyoto and she had loved the park she died in so much that her sprit lingered there and became malevolent.
"I talked to her about the beautiful parks she would see on the other side, about how her spirit was beginning to make people hate the park and talk of destroying it and she decided to let her burdens go and pass into that other life."
"Tell me more!"
Repressing the urge to again sigh I begin to recount tails of the more memorable assignments I had received within my youth.
About half way through the stories Kibou falls asleep and smiling I wrap a blanket around him.
In the pail luminescence of the twilight he looks so very fragile…almost as an expensive porcelain figurine and on a whim I place a hand to his forehead and inform him,
"Kibou-kun…I shall do what it takes to assure that you have a happy future." Before I retire at last to bed.
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T: Yes there is evil on the horizon…snerk, no I am not going to tell you what it is! As to tree-san's new form…I can not help but envision a slightly more menacing version of Card Captor Sakura's Yukito...giggle…R+R if only to stop the insanity!
