Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Subaru let out a bitter laugh as he turned off the radio. The female singer had been singing about her cruel, abusive lover, and how he had hurt her. He laughed again. What did these celebrities know about lost love, about the true pain of having someone abuse you like that? She didn't have any idea of the torture that he had had to endure, nor did the thousands of other people who were listening to her. Just a bunch of ignorant fools, the masses were. She thought her lover was cruel? She should meet Seishirou.

Subaru thought for a moment more as he sat down in front of his TV in his plain, sparsely furnished living room. The song probably was written by some jaded songwriter, and selected by a manager. They had no idea of the true pain that one could have to, would have to, endure in a life. Of course, they weren't destined to save humanity, even at the cost of one's soul. They weren't born unto fate to become a Dragon of Heaven, to protect everyone else from the cause of one's lover.

And this brought him to the subject of Seishirou; his twin star, his darker image, his temptation. So many ways to describe this man, and so many others unrelated to Subaru. Murderer, assassin, Keeper of the Sakura Barrow….. Subaru let his thoughts drift, his mind sinking into a silent, unplanned meditation.

"Good evening, Subaru-kun." A familiar voice sounded from behind his chair, pulling him out of his thoughts. It seemed quite some time had passed, sending the late afternoon into early evening.

Without turning from his seat to see who it was, Subaru answered, "Hello, Seishirou-san."

"My, my, this place is gloomy. Why don't I turn on a light?" Subaru could tell with his heightened senses that Seishirou was looking around the room, noting the sparse appearance. He walked down past Subaru's chair to turn on a lamp by the TV. "Why were you sitting in the dark like that, Subaru-kun? Lost in your thoughts, maybe?"

"What do you want, Seishirou-san? Why are you here?" Subaru asked, his voice tired. He hadn't slept a at least two days, and he hadn't eaten since breakfast yesterday. He shut his eyes, waiting for Seishirou's answer. When he received none, Subaru opened his eyes to see Seishirou standing in front of him, apparently thinking. "Well?"

"Hokuto would have never forgiven me if I allowed you to mistreat your body like this, that's why." With this answer, Subaru's eyes sparked. Seishirou, noticing this, added "And I haven't seen you in a while. The Kamuis seem to be occupied with other things."

Subaru's mind did not allow the emphasized words to go by unnoticed. He had known that something had been up, with the Dragons of Earth less active, but had not thought of that possibility. He didn't hold it against Kamui, no, then he would be a hypocrite. He understood the entire circumstance, although some of the other Dragons might.

"Subaru-kun? Are you alright?" Seishirou's voice shook him out of his reverie, taking him back to the reality he so sought to escape. When he had Subaru's attention again, he began to speak once more. "Now, as I was saying, Hokuto would not have liked to see you like this. You don't seem to have eaten in quite a while." Seishirou approached Subaru's chair, unaware of the sparks that he had ignited in Subaru's eyes at the mention of the boy's, no, the man's, twin sister. He grabbed Subaru's arm, pulling him up out of the chair. Subaru stumbled, as he had expected, and bumped against his chest. Subaru was still looking down, his face to the floor.

"Seishirou-san?" Subaru said, his voice soft.

"Yes, Subaru-kun?"

Subaru looked up, and the sparks in his eyes flared, and he punched Seishirou in the jaw as hard a he could. Shocked, Seishirou brushed his hand against the darkening bruise.

"I hate you, Seishirou-san."

Seishirou laughed, and a look of surprise flitted across Subaru's face. "Very well, Subaru-kun. You have won this round." He conceded, much to Subaru's surprise. Subaru hadn't been aware that they were playing a game, although he wouldn't put it past Seishirou. "But I'm still taking you out for dinner." Seishirou added, the conviction in his tone making it impossible for Subaru to refuse.

Short chapter, I know, I know. Next chapter: Round 2-Dinner. It'll be longer, I promise!

mgS99