5. Spell.
T: Out early because I had more free time than I thought and because I've hit another spot of inspiration! Nothing to note about this chapter and so my first review!
Nonymous-chan: Firstly thank you for your kindness and I'm glad you're enjoying it so far! As to the formal nature of the conversation…I'm aware that sometimes I'm a bit too intense with the formality but for me such language gives conversation a more serious edge that suits X as a series. I'm attempting to phase in slang, I really am It's just hard to break a habit! Please keep reading and keep nitpicking as it helps me improve!
Warnings remain the same and no I still can not claim ownership of anything other than the plot!
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They sit a while in the darkness, chatting amiably of simple things and enjoying the pleasure of one another's company.
Eventually Keiichi allows him to switch the light on and, once he can see the other clearly, he finds that his courage falters slightly.
"You are hesitant."
"You'll think me silly, Keiichi, but within the shadows it seemed like a dream to me and faced with 'reality' I find I am a little nervous."
"It is not 'silly' Kamui; in fact it is very sweet." He leans forwards to kiss him again and Kamui pulls towards the contact, desperate for the comfort he knows such a close embrace will bring him.
They separate eventually and grasping to Keiichi's hand he informs the boy,
"When I realised that my shadowed self intended to kill you my heart all but stopped.
"I also became a little inflammatory and it seems now very possibly that I would have done anything to get you safe again at my side.
"I can not again lose my control, Keiichi and so I would ask that you come 'home' with me once the doctor releases you.
"Do you mean your 'home' with Sakurazuka-san or with the Seals?"
"Does it make a difference?"
"Seeing the influence Sakurazuka-san has had upon you I believe that I could live content in his company, the Seals, however…"
"I understand."
"Then to which do you refer?"
"Though the Seals have been kind to me I have only ever felt truly relaxed in Seishiro's house, thus I consider it as much a 'home' as I am likely to have in this lifetime."
"Then I shall gladly come with you."
………………………………………………………………………………….
He is crossing the open expanse of the terrace when a scream catches his ears and, before he has even truly registered the sound, he is running towards it.
A small crowd is gathered about a familiar head of golden hair and, as he makes his way towards the recumbent figure, he overhears several whispered conversations that give him more information on the sequence of events leading to this conclusion.
The young woman who had been bestowed the privilege of 'looking after' the Imonoyama is, thankfully, one of his classmates and thus he is freed from the necessity of introducing himself. Indeed she passes her burden into his care once he is close enough and informs him,
"He seemed fine all of a moment ago, Sumeragi-san."
"He has been working very hard of late and I am certain that this is little more than fatigue, thus if you would be so good as to move the crowd on."
"Of course."
She stands and schooling her features into a blank mask she pointed off into the middle distance and enquired,
"Is that Imonoyama Rijin?"
Snarled into the possibility of catching a glimpse of one of Noruko's numerous elder brothers the crowd fans out and, tightening his hold fractionally upon his burden, Subaru sprints in the opposite direction to that which the mass was heading in.
He settles, eventually, in what seems a relatively reclusive spot and setting his burden to the floor he sets his hands to the others forehead.
A symbol flashes, momentarily, beneath his hands and then the Imonoyama's eyes are fluttering open.
"Did I collapse?"
"It seems that your body is not strong enough to cope both with the constant onslaught upon the shield and the backlash from the spell that has bound your soul to the matrix."
"How much longer do I have until it gives out completely?"
"A week, perhaps a little less if the attacks become any more intense than they are now."
"Four more Kekkai remain standing and yet I believe a week may be enough time…the other Kamui has only to shatter the barrier upon the Tokyo tower for the other to fall and pushed, as he begins to be, into a corner he is likely to reach for this swift conclusion."
"What if a week proves too little?"
"Then I shall push myself to endure the onslaught."
The Imonoyama attempts to stand then and yet, for the moment, he seems unable to perform even so basic an action.
"Would you allow me to sever the connection between you and the Shinken, Imonoyama-san, if there were another way to assure the swords safety?"
"Of course, yet there is no alternative solution and even if there were I do not believe that breaking my bond with the matrix shall be a simple thing."
"Yet while there is hope we must aspire towards it." This last is uttered by Suoh, who stands now but a little to their left.
"Suoh."
"I made my feelings clear in regard to this course of action and yet still you continued, still you say 'everything shall improve when I am gone'."
The Takumura comes to crouch at Noruko's side and, pulling the other into a hug, he remarks.
"Long ago I made a promise to protect you and through my trepidation I have managed to shatter that pledge…have driven you to this action…"
"This was my choice, Suoh."
"Yet you made it because you believed that you had hurt me, because you believed that my pledge to you had come between myself and true happiness."
"If not for me Nagisa would be…"
"I would never have married her, Noruko, for my heart felt only for her as a sibling."
"Yet you told her…"
"I lied to her, Noruko, to protect her heart and to protect my own."
"I do not understand."
Suoh chuckles a little at that and leasing his companion from his embrace he remarks,
"How odd it is that even with a mind such as yours you are unable to see so obvious a thing…I love you, Noruko."
"You do not mean that."
"I could not be any more sincere, love." He remarks as he pulls the other into a passionate kiss.
Subaru turns a little from the pair in order to allow them some privacy and it is only when the Imonoyama remarks, "I wish now to hope for a positive conclusion, Sumeragi-san." That he turns again to face them.
"I shall have need to know of how you bound your essence to the matrix of the shield and I shall need, also, to see the damage that had begun to appear upon the matrix before you made these 'alterations'."
"Come with me."
Noruko leads him into the labyrinth of the campus library and, after an hour of, what seems to him, aimless walking, the other pronounces,
"This is the occult section of the library and it is amongst these tomes that I learned the necessary incantations to create the spell."
Subaru regards the numerous tomes lining the shelves and enquires,
"Might you recall which you used, Imonoyama-san?"
"Give me a moment."
Stepping onto one of the many ladders that line the walls the Imonoyama pulls free four thick tomes and a small blue notebook.
"These books are clearly out of order and this notebook should not be here at all…I was certain that I had returned them and yet…" He drops the items into Subaru' waiting fingers and, smiling brightly, he remarks, "It seems that, at last, my disorganised manner has paid off."
He flips quickly through each item and then informs Noruko,
"I believe there is enough here to be of help. I shall need time, however, to create a counter spell and so I advise that you stop all unnecessary activities in order to allow your body the chance to be as strong as it can for this fight."
"This is the perfect chance then for Akira-kun to bake those new cakes he was so excited about yesterday and there is a little temple in Kyoto I have wanted to visit for a while…" The Imonoyama's voice begins to peter out as the other walks back into the maze of bookshelves and it is merely for the strength of Suoh's voice that he hears the other reply,
"Paperwork does not count as an 'unnecessary activity' Noruko."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
T: Thus ends the bulk of the CCD crossover…of course the spell will have to be dealt with but, apart from that, we're back to the story proper! Next update either Sunday or Monday depending, until then let me know what you think, good or bad!