6. Perception.
T: Having reached the end of this thing I wished to add an 'It's going to have a sequel' warning, if only because I'm working on a fic for another fandom and thus it might take a while for me to get the sequel up. Other than that though things remain as they were…actually that's a slight lie but as I don't want to spoil things will say only that you need to be aware!
I own only the plot, something for which I apologise profusely.
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He is eating his lunch with Keiichi when Noruko steps out onto the path before them,
"Ah, Shirou-kun, I am glad that I have found you."
"What can I do for you Imonoyama-san?"
"I wished to explain myself."
"I'll be back in a while, Segawa-kun."
Noruko walks them to the centre of the campus and, perching onto the fountain, he informs him,
"I am sorry that I had to thrust you into this unaware, Shirou-kun, but I was certain that you would refuse if I simply asked.
"Why did you do it in the first place, Imonoyama-san?"
"People were getting hurt simply though ignorance, Shirou-kun and I feared what the future might bring." He pauses and, his eyes fixing on the middle distance, he says, "I was always alone when I was very young, for as the heir to a fortune I was a target always for kidnappers and thus my parents kept me isolated from the world.
"When I came to the Clamp Campus, however, so many people clamoured to be my friend and I welcomed this attention even though I knew it to be false.
"There was one boy, however, who was cold always to me and I believed that he hated me…believed I was an insignificant to him.
"Yet a little after I met the boy we were kidnapped together and he risked so much to save me that it became clear that he did not hate me…that I was of importance to him.
"Had I believed in my perception of that boy without doubt, Shirou-kun, had I not attempted to pursue a friendship with him despite his apparent disregard of me…"
Noruko trails and, a faint smile crossing onto his lips, he concludes,
"I would have remained always alone….would have missed out on the joy of seeing his smiling face and in the joy of having him always at my side."
"It is a touching tale, Imonoyama-san and I understand the point behind it…"
"But you do not comprehend how it is relevant to you?"
"Precisely."
"I wished you to see that there was a world out there beyond the bonds that the Seals had set you…wised you to learn how very different the emotion of love was in comparison to that of lust…"
"You wished me to see that I did not care for Subaru as I believed."
"That is correct."
"Is that because you believe, as I, that Seishiro cares for him?"
"I believe that the Sakurazukamori that we see is an illusion and that there is a dangerous truth behind that illusion that he wishes to hide…
"Yet I can not say with any certainty if that truth is that he cares for Sumeragi-san or if it is something completely different."
"It seems there is only one way of know for certain."
"Which is?"
"We find the flaw in the illusion."
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He had been lead to believe that Kamui was having his lunch with Segawa-kun and thus, when he finds the other alone, he is stricken with a brief instant of panic.
He has no want, however, to jump to conclusions and thus he announces his presence to the other and then enquires,
"Where is Kamui?"
"He went to talk with Imonoyama-san."
He relaxes at that, just slightly, and enquires,
"Could I wait with you, Segawa-kun?"
"Of course."
There is a moment of amiable silence and then Keiichi enquires,
"It seems to me that Shirou-kun has changed of late, would you agree with me, Sumeragi-san?"
"He seems a little more mature of late, certainly."
"I wonder if he is gaining a little more from Sakurazuka-san's tuition than mere academic knowledge."
The mention of that name sends a chill down his spine and, aware that such coincidences are currently a rare thing, he enquires,
"Sakurazuka-san?"
"Sakurazuka Seishiro, did Shirou-kun not mention him to you?"
"No."
"He came to class on Monday to talk to us about running a business. Once the lesson was done he asked to talk to Shirou-kun, something that I was curious about until Shirou-kun explained that Imonoyama-san had asked Sakurazuka-san to talk to him."
"In what regard?"
"The possibility of Shirou-kun gaining outside tuition with Sakurazuka-san."
"A possibility that has become a reality?"
"Indeed. Shirou-kun has been taking lessons with Sakurazuka-san since Tuesday."
He little likes that Kamui has kept this, of all things, silent, yet it is Seishiro's silence on the matter that unnerves him the greatest.
Indeed he feels, suddenly and inexplicably, shut out of his own life.
Kamui steps around the corner but a moment after that, a soft smile on his lips and a slight spring in his step.
"I should allow you two time to talk." Keiichi remarks as he gains his feet.
Kamui watches the boy leaving and then he enquires,
"Is it another Kekkai?"
"No, I was simply passing this way and when Segawa-kun informed me that you were talking to Imonoyama-san I believed it best I lingered in case it was a problem with the seal on the Shinken."
"If that was all…"
"Why did you not say anything?"
The boy tenses and then he replies,
"What need was there, Subaru? He has not treated me harshly or tried to harm me."
"What need? Kamui he is your enemy…"
"Something that is an issue only on the battle field."
The boy seems genuine in his conviction and Subaru allows his blank mask to slip a little.
"Years ago, Kamui, I happened into the company of a kindly vet. He was smart, funny and there was a charm to him that was unique.
"Slowly I began to fall in love with him and yet when I realised that care I discovered that that vet was only a lie.
"Despite the terrible circumstance in which I gained that knowledge, despite the blood that coated now that man's hands…I could not bring myself to believe in it.
"The illusion has been so perfect, you see."
"You do not quite believe it still, is that not right, Subaru? That is why you cling always to his marks when you are uncertain, for the thought of him…or his illusionary other self…is as a sedative to you."
"He had no right to talk to you of such things…no right to pull you into our affairs…"
"Yet he has, Subaru and for my part I am glad that he has done as such.
"For I now comprehend why you hold to such beliefs…comprehend why you allowed yourself to become enthralled by him…
"I begin to believe, also, that there is more to this than we are seeing. Believe that, perhaps, it is the Sakurazukamori who is, in fact, the illusion."
"Every aspect of that man is an illusion, Kamui and with that in mind I will let go this foolishness.
"I have a duty, however, to inform the other Seals that you have been spending time in his company and I can not promise that they shall be as forgiving as I."
"Will you tell them also of your involvement with him?"
"No, for that matter is my business."
"Is not my friendship with him my business then?"
"No, for you are the leader of this group and thus your business is our business also."
Kamui had, until this point, remained relatively in control of his emotions. However, the moment that Subaru speaks those words his eyes flash and he enquires,
"I'm barely old enough to be considered an adult, Subaru, how is it fair that I have to shoulder such a responsibility? All I wished was a chance to live a little of my own life and yet because of that unfair responsibility you would deny me even that.
"I can not allow such a thing, Subaru, and thought I have never gone against you I fear that I must now.
"Should you tell the seals of the truth of my tutor then I shall tell them of your heart and of your Wish."
There is a hard crack and it takes Subaru a moment to realise that the sound is that of his hand connecting with the skin of Kamui's face.
"Do not let his illusions push you away from your true friends, Kamui." He remarks before he steps, at last, from the boy's side.
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T: Yep the penny has dropped…expect things to go BOOM! Next chapter! See the blue button? Press it; fill out the little white box with your opinion on this thing and in the next chapter I'll give you lots of warm fuzzies! Next update Tuesday/Wednesday.