6. Infirmity.

T: Many of you will be glad to know that the plot finally makes a slight appearance in this chapter! Warnings remain the same and I fear that I still own nothing here other than the plot!

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He had expected Subaru to collect him from the hospital and, though it unsettles him to admit as such, he is a little…deflated…when he hears Kamui's voice.

"Where is Subaru?"

"Things with Imonoyama-san have taken a turn for the worse and Subaru has buried himself into the library in hopes if finding a solution that is beneficial to all involved."

"It can not be helped, I suppose…" He smiles then and remarks, "You sound happier, at least."

"Are you prying, Seishiro?"

"I am simply pursuing my curiosity."

"For the sake of your 'curiosity' then, Keiichi and I have come to an understanding."

"The other Kamui will not stop pursuing him."

"Thus I have asked him to come and live with me."

"Something that you were going to inform me of before it happened, yes?"

"I am telling you now, aren't I?"

There is a moment of silence and then he enquires,

"Would you take me to Ueno?"

"May I ask why you wish to go there?"

"I need to talk to the tree."

"About your eyes?"

"That is correct."

It is odd to trace so familiar a path in complete darkness and yet once he is used to this disconcertion he finds himself noticing subtle things that had, previously, been lost to him.

…The soft rhythm of the train passing over the tracks…

…The odd hush of the once busy streets…

…The faint scent of decomposing flesh wrapped well into the illusion of the tree.

"Which is yours then?" The question serves to remind him both that he is not alone and that, no matter how perceptive Kamui has become, the other has not the power to see beyond the trees disguise.

"Do you see the tree that sits a little on its own, the one that sits on top of a small rise in the ground?"

"You mean this one?" Kamui enquires as he sets Seishiro's fingers onto the rough solidity of a tree trunk.

He feels the pull of the sakura almost the instant his fingers make contact and smiling he responds, "Indeed," before he allows the trees illusion to furl about him.

All is silent for a moment and then the ancient voice of the tree enquires,

: Why did you do this::

'I could not allow the mark of another upon him'

: Such impulsiveness is little suited to the Sakurazukamori. :

'Are you going to "scold" me, tree-san?'

: What would the point be? For no matter how distasteful such a thing is to me I can do nothing but accept it. That boy is to be your successor and thus he makes you weak…thus he brings out in you a side that is something less than perfection. :

'Will you give me back my sight?'

: I shall and yet I wish you to know this is the last that I shall do such a thing for you…wish you to know that the next time you are gravely injured you shall have to rely merely on your own strength to recover. :

'It is duly noted'

He severs the connection between them then and for a brief instant he is lost still in darkness.

Then, as if his eyes are opening from a long sleep, the world about him falls into a clarity that he has not experienced for the greatest of times; for the tree has restored to him not only the sight in his left eye but that in his right also.

"How do they seem?" He enquires as he turns to catch Kamui's gaze.

"They suit you very well, Seishiro."

"But?"

"But they are not of the same hue as your original eyes."

"Of what hue are they?"

"They are of the deep blood red that one would associate with a camellia and though the hue is a little odd it suits you very well."

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

"You may take it as you wish."

There is a moment of silence and then he enquires,

"Have you a little spare time or is your 'husband' sat waiting for you?"

Kamui blushes a little for the endearment and replies,

"Keiichi has school to attend and thus he is not moving in until this evening. Why do you ask?"

"There was no particular reason."

"Then while we have a moment together I wondered if I might ask for some information from you."

"What sort of information?"

"I wish to know of your impression of my 'other self', of the details of the Sakurazukamori succession and a little more on your bond with the tree."

"The link between the sakura and I is something that not even I fully comprehend and, as I have said before, I have no wish for you to know more of the succession.

"To the matter of your 'other self', however…" He settles down onto the grass and, once Kamui has taken up the space at his side, he says, "Being in the company of that boy was as being with my younger self, for he has all of the impulses, passions and failings that I had while younger.

"You are thinking 'what does this mean for Fuuma' and I would tell you…"

"But"

"I do not believe that you shall appreciate what I have to say."

"No matter how distasteful it is to me I have a need to hear this truth, Seishiro."

"As Sakurazukamori I live in a world of illusions, this in order to hide away my one weakness and the advantages that weakness would give to my enemies.

"The shadowed mirror of your soul is also as such…"

"You mean to say 'the Dark Kamui' is little more than illusion?"

"Yes."

"Why would Fuuma do that then? Why kill Kotori and why pursue the 'end of the world'?"

"The intent of the Dragons of Earth is to allow this world to be 'reborn' free of the corrupting influence of humanity, Kamui; this is something that you would do well to note.

"As to the rest…your 'other self' is, as I, bestowed of an all consuming love that brings out a dark want to be as everything to they that we care for.

"Kotori was of importance to you and thus, though she was Fuuma's sister, she had to die."

"I do not believe that he would destroy her for so selfish a reason, nor do I believe, as you have wish for me to, that if was for such a reason that you destroyed Hokuto."

"I should tell you that such a belief is due, merely, to your lingering attachment to Fuuma. However, that would be as telling you but a partial truth."

"By which you infer that he, at least, had another reason for his actions."

"He wishes, more than anything else, for you to live, Kamui."

"He knew that I would die willingly if it meant his return…knew that I would have to be pushed into taking this fight seriously…thus he destroyed Kotori in the hope that such an act would be enough for me to hate him."

"That is correct."

Kamui fall then into a cognitive silence and Seishiro knows, simply for the expression on the others face, that the boy is best left, for the moment at least, to his own devices.

Eventually Kamui turns to face him and, an odd emotion encased in the violet of his eyes, he enquires,

"Did you kill Hokuto with this intent, Seishiro?"

He does not respond and yet Kamui clearly deems something from the way that he holds himself for, that odd emotion clear still in his eyes, he enquires,

"Why would you believe such a thing necessary? Why would you believe that Subaru would be happier without you there in his life?"

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T: Forgive the cliff hanger…it was either stop here or have an absolutely massive chapter and, as such endings give motive for you to keep reading that option won out! Next chapter Tuesday…in the interim why not occupy yourself by reviewing? I don't mind if you just say 'is good' or 'is bad' all comments will be appreciated!