DISCLAIMER: As before, all characters and specialised words etc, relating to the characters used are owned and credited to CLAMP. Certain images and events are also credited to CLAMP. However, the interpretation of events and the story that follows is written by sakurazukamori. Enjoi, R/R.
.:Chapter 7 – Justice:.
"...It is said of the wicked who believe that they are just: 'Even at the threshold of the underworld they do not turn back.' For they are under the illusion that they are being led into Hell so that they can redeem the souls from it."
Does he know my real wish?
My wish for him to...
It was the taste of blood, metallic and bittersweet that brought the onmyouji back to his senses. His teeth had sunk deep into his bottom lip, carmine droplets oozed from the gash, welling in the cracked rivets of his parched lips. The taste and the still lingering scent of blood, it served as an all too cruel reminder...
He was not in a dream, but an illusion of painful reality.
Opening his haunted emerald eyes, Subaru met the lingering stare of his one love, his one hate... a contradiction of everything. He could see a satisfied grin pulling at the corners of the blossom star's seductive lips.
"My Subaru-kun," whispered Seishiro, a flash of pearly white accompanying his words. "You are bleeding."
Releasing his hand from around Subaru's slim waist, he brought one of his long tapered fingers to the Sumeragi's mouth running it along the bloodied lip. The onmyouji's blood smelt different from that of the others, purer, untainted by the corruption that seemed to hold Japan hostage. Bringing his crimson stained finger to his own mouth, the sakurazukamori indulged himself with the younger man's essence, his life force. The blood stained his teeth spoiling them with a cerise tinge...
"Now where were we?" mused the assassin, his head cocked to one side. "Ah yes, I remember; this is your chance Subaru-kun, the chance you have been yearning for, the chance to kill me. Defy your fate and avenge dear Hokuto's."
Stretching his arms out in a welcoming gesture, the blossom star stepped back from his quarry. He could see the arms of Subaru Sumeragi lying limp and leaden at his sides as if he had forgotten how to use them. Seishiro could almost sense the mental conflict tearing apart at the insides of the Sumeragi's mind...
Revenge, isn't that what he wanted? Revenge for his sister, his twin's death? Why then couldn't he summon the ofuda to hand? Why couldn't he strike down the man that had caused him such endless misery, such torment? He wanted to rip out the part of him that loved this murderer, the part that hung on his every word, every gesture.
"You need more persuasion?" mocked Seishiro, his amber eye laughing. "I'd be happy to oblige." Taking a step towards the young onmyouji, Seishiro began to speak the words he knew would inflict more pain on the Sumeragi than any possible form of physical torture. "Did you know that your sister begged for your life? Oh yes, she begged Subaru-kun; even when she was dead, she continued to beg with her lifeless eyes. I could hear her silent plea even after her death, spare him Sei-chan, please... spare him. She could have walked away, but no... she died, died for you. And here I stand, your sister's murderer, awaiting redemption, but tell me little Subaru-kun, can you give me my redemption?"
Hokuto... her faced flashed into the Sumeragi's mind once again, although in reality it had never really left. He experienced its deathly pallor every waking minute, in every nightmare. Would his sweet, good-natured sister want her only brother to turn into a murderer? A murderer who, once accomplishing his vengeful deed, would inherit the accursed role of the blossom star assassin? Her face was a warning, a reminder...
"No," came a choked yet self-certain reply. "I will not become a murderer like you."
"Still haven't changed, Subaru-kun," whispered Seishiro, a jeering tone apparent in his voice, "haven't changed at all."
Coming closer to the young Sumeragi, the dark onmyouji grasped the boy's hands in his own bringing them to his lips. Subaru could feel himself wanting to pull away, but for some reason he allowed the assassin to gently press a kiss on the back of each hand. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever felt before – there was no accompanying pain or hatred, merely warmth. Seishiro could see Subaru's mouth parted in utter disbelief, his green eyes wide, but without the tears he had shed so freely before.
"You know, we all must change in order to survive," spoke Seishiro abruptly, "but for you, I see that will not be the case. Indeed, you really are still as cute as I remember, but are you still as innocent, my Subaru-kun?"
A wicked smile graced the lips of the sakurazukamori as he leaned in to place a long due kiss on the parched lips of the stunned Sumeragi. Subaru could still taste the bitterness of nicotine even after the assassin pulled away – a parting gift before they met for the last time. Seishiro felt himself smile inwardly as he realised that Subaru's wish would soon be granted and, in turn, his own wish would be realised. Stepping back from the youth, he studied the boy one last time. Did he really have what it took? Could his incorruptible soul handle such a bloodthirsty task? This time a true smile broke out across the sakurazukamori's face, of course the boy couldn't handle it, but he didn't care; either way, the assassin knew for certain that Subaru Sumeragi was not one to turn down a final request, even from someone like him.
"This is where we part," continued Seishiro taking no notice of his fellow onmyouji's silence. "Next time we meet it will be the last."
"I don't understand," replied Subaru shakily.
"Oh, I think you do," smiled the assassin, bowing his head. "You are a Dragon of Heaven, I am a Harbinger – neither can live whilst the other survives, you know this."
Subaru looked down to the floor; he didn't want to think about the fate of the Earth, it didn't matter to him, but he was now being dragged into it against his will. Flicking his eyes back up towards Seishiro, Subaru felt himself nodding silently – a mute acceptance of the events that would inevitably transpire upon a fateful day on the Rainbow Bridge.
"I never cared much before," began Subaru, words pouring from his mouth before he could stop them, "not about the Earth, the Seals or even the Harbingers. I just wanted to find you, but now I have-,"
"You can't do it," interrupted Seishiro, a condescending tone evident in his voice, "not yet, but when we next meet you will be ready, of that I am sure."
Nodding his head in a final concluding gesture, the sakurazukamori began to pace backwards, away from the young Sumeragi. There was something incorporeal about the dark onmyouji now though, his body seemed to be disintegrating into a blizzard of corruption. Infinite amounts of sakura petals began to flake away from the blossom star's tall frame, whirling about him with every step he took.
"I will see you soon," whispered Seishiro, his voice hoarse and echoing, "very soon."
No. He couldn't let him escape, not now, not after having searched for him for so long. Before he knew what he was doing Subaru bolted, running as fast as his shaking legs could carry him, but it didn't matter how fast he ran, the assassin was always just out of reach. The petals of the Barrow whipped against his cheeks leaving streaks of their blood-stained residue against his perfect face.
"Wait! Seishiro-san!" bawled Subaru, his lungs burning with every gasp of air.
The sakurazukamori wasn't stopping, his face was fixed with that satisfied grin as more and more of him peeled away. He no longer had legs only a flurry of pastel pink petals; even his abdomen was being eaten away, replaced by the perfect corruption that consumed him. Subaru didn't care; the sight of Seishiro disintegrating only spurred him on, his pace quickening, his balance faltering...
"Seishiro!" cried Subaru as he fell crashing to the ground, his hand outstretched, watching as the two mismatched eyes finally closed and disappeared into oblivion.
"Noooo! SEISHIRO-SAN!" gasped Subaru as he clawed out for the elusive assassin only to find that he was still in his dingy apartment room.
He was sprawled out in exactly the same position he had fallen in when he had vainly chased after the sakurazukamori. Looking down at his hands he could see that they were pallid devoid of any bloodstains, turning them over to look at the backs the mark of the blossom star had disappeared. A dream? No, how could something so real be a mere dream? Surely though that was the only logical explanation behind it? Sleep hadn't held a high position in Subaru's routine, perhaps it was his body finally giving out? Studying the backs of his hands once more, he vainly tried to locate the bleeding star but to no avail.
"Damn you," muttered Subaru under his breath as he pushed himself up into a sitting position.
Cradling his heavy head in his hands, Subaru felt himself emit a long sigh as he scolded himself for allowing sleep deprivation to pervade into his days. His relentless search for the blossom star had truly taken its toll on him. Lifting his head up to look around his apartment for signs of something out of the ordinary, a flash of pink caught his eye settling on to the barren floor next to him. The petal – it wasn't pure white, but cerise and splattered with droplets of crimson: a petal from the Sakura Barrow.
Crushing it in his fist, Subaru felt its feather-soft exterior metamorphose into something irony and liquid – the stench of fresh blood rose up his nostrils as drip after drip seeped onto the floor beneath him. Opening his clenched fist, Subaru saw the blood running along the lines of his palm soaking into his flesh. Seishiro's final words seared themselves into his memory over and over again...
I will see you soon... very soon
"How soon?" whispered Subaru, defeated, as the blood in his palm was diluted with the salty essence of lonely tears.
All done! Not the best fan fic in the world, but one I owed myself to complete. I enjoyed writing it soo much when I first started, but I kinda lost interest. I then read X/1999 #18 and then got a surge of inspiration. For those of you who followed it and reviewed, thank you!