Discord.
1. Change.
T: For those who read the one sentence version of the last chapter of Conflict please go back and read the PROPER version of that chapter, nothing here will make sense unless you do as such. That out of the way let us do the warnings shall we? This follows on directly from Conflict of interests, please read that fic before this one for optimum enjoyment. Also I've not got my usual 'buffer chapter' system up and running yet so expect a slower update pace. There is definite ANGST in this chapter and a Cliff-hanger. It is Clamp's not mine.
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He'd allowed the two their privacy once it'd been clear that there was, for the moment, no danger of an argument starting between the pair.
Going home hadn't of been much of an option, he needed time to form answers for the questions that he knew Sorata would ask, after all.
Thus he'd wondered, aimless, for a great while until he'd found himself before the Tree.
"You called me here, didn't you?"
:We had an agreement, Kamui. :
"I had no other choice."
: You could have stepped aside, allowed things to take their natural course…:
"Allowed you to take control of his life again, you mean?"
: Why is such a thing so distasteful to you? He hurt your precious Sumeragi, after all. :
"The Seishiro I have known over the last few months is not the same as the Seishiro who hurt Subaru. He has become a treasured friend and thus I defend him, thus I wish only for his happiness."
: You consider him a great deal more than your 'friend'."
"That is a lie."
: Is it? You and the Sumeragi are very similar people; you bear very similar scars and have the same 'kind' soul.
: Seishiro-sama has been for you precisely what he was for the Sumeragi during the 'Year', thus it is not too much to assume that you have come to love him as the Sumeragi does. :
There is logic in the rational and hearing that sensibility…hearing his 'feelings' talked of in such a clinical manner...
: I could take away this problem, Kamui, could take away all of your pain. All you need do is give yourself over to me. :
"Why the sudden civility?"
: I can not simply force a connection between myself and my new 'master. :
The information is surprising and yet hearing it he is filled, suddenly, with hope.
It was clear, simply for how badly the other had been reacting to his 'nightmares', that Seishiro has no want to claim again the position of Sakurazukamori. Thus, as the Tree could not force the other to perform his role, the threat of the shadow of Seishiro's 'darker self' had been lifted.
: You believe this news gives you an escape rout and yet that is not the case. Eventually he will recall the shear intoxication of my power, will recall the thrill that he gained from being Sakurazukamori and he will willingly take back his title. :
"Yet if I accept the title in his stead, what will happen then?"
: He will lose the memory of our bond permanently; will forget that he was ever Sakurazukamori. :
"Then f6r the sake of Seishiro-san's happiness, for the hope of a 'fresh start' I shall submit, willingly, to you."
……………………………………………………………………………………..
He had been listening to Seishiro tell him of the time he had been spending in Kamui's company, of the few memories he had of his life, when a sharp pain had lanced across his forehead.
He had known, instinctively, that the pain was as a sign that Kamui was in danger and was just about to excuse himself when the colour drained from Seishiro's face.
"Seishiro, is everything alright?"
"Something is very wrong…" this is the all the other manages before he faints, his heavy form slumping hard into Subaru's shoulder.
He little likes how close the two incidences have fallen and, once he is assured that Seishiro is comfortable, he heads for Ueno, a terrible foreboding in his stomach.
Kamui is sprawled before the Tree, the exposed skin at his neck coated in small bruises.
"What have you done?" He enquires as he sets a hand to the boy's forehead.
: He has set you free. : The sound of, what can only be the Tree's voice, in his head is a little unsettling and it takes a great deal of his control not to react to this fact.
"You make is sound as though he had a choice."
: He had every choice and yet you, at least, will not believe such a thing. :
He had a want to retort, to somehow turn this situation around and yet, before he has a chance to act, the other Seals arrive in the area.
Sorata is the only one brave enough to approach him while he is wearing such a stern face, the monk smiling genially at him before enquiring,
"What happened, Sumeragi-san?"
"I believe he attempted to weaken the Sakurazukamori by destroying the Tree, It retaliated to this attack, as you can see."
"Let's get him to the infirmary, shall we?" The monk enquires, the smile on his face this time a little more genuine than the last.
He reacts to the suggestion in the manner he knows is expected if him and, assured that his anger is, for the moment, dissipated, the remaining Seals join them at last.
It takes a great while for Noruku to be filled in on the situation, for Kamui to be 'settled in' to the infirmary and for the other Seals to deem it best to give them 'time alone'.
With each passing hour he becomes more and more concerned about Seishiro's welfare, with how the other has reacted to waking alone, eventually this worry must have become enough that he could not completely conceal it from his face for the Imonoyama takes him gently to one side and says,
"I have already phoned Sakurazuka-san and informed him of the situation."
"How…"
"Kamui-kun entrusted this matter to me as he had need of my 'knowledge' in order that he might locate Sakurazuka-san's surgery.
"Thus it is in not too much of a jump to assure that Kamui-kun has also, at last, informed you of the matter."
"Yet how did you know that I was worried for Seishiro?"
"Even when Kamui-kun has been harmed previously your worry had not been overtly clear upon your face.
"Thus for it to be there now it must have been caused by something other than the boy."
"I see."
"Sakurazuka-san asked me to inform you that he understood and that he wished to be kept informed of the 'situation.'"
"Thank you for giving me this news, Imonoyama-san and for understanding."
"You are welcome, Sumeragi-san." He had remarked before he had allowed Subaru to return to the matter in hand.
It takes Kamui a further hour after they have been left alone, to regain consciousness, the momentary dissolution on his face as the oddest of comforts.
"How are you feeling?"
"Light headed. Did I have another run in with the 'Other Kamui'?" Sensing his reluctance to answer the question, the boy pushes himself into a sitting position and enquires, "What has happened?"
"What is the last thing that you remember?"
"I'd decided to for a walk, let you and Seishiro-san have a chance to 'catch up; and to gather together a reasonable excuse for where I'd gone today…" He trails then, the confidence and the joy fading from his face.
"Kamui?"
"The Tree called for me…asked me to fulfil my end of our agreement…"
"What agreement?"
"It told me that Its destruction would harm Tokyo, that if I did not fill the void left by Seishiro-san then the final stability of this city would crumble.
"Thus for the sake of this city, for the sake of Seishiro-san's happiness and your own, I said that I would fill the void."
"Have you allowed It to claim you? Have you submitted your will to It?"
"What other choice was there? I couldn't let the Seishiro-san I had come to know vanish, nor could I allow this city to be harmed any more than it has already."
"What did you think agreeing to such a course would do, Kamui? By claiming the role of Sakurazukamori you have claimed also his position within the Dragons of Earth.
"Have unsettled the balance of this war and have become as our enemy."
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T: Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! Yep things are going to be interesting aren't they? Please R+R and hopefully I'll get the next chapter up Thursday afternoon (fingers crossed!)