Yay! Chapter 3 is up! ^_^ Oh and I meant to mention earlier, I'm modeling Seishirou's behavior off of how he acted in Tokyo Babylon before we found out he was a total sociopath. :P Does this mean he is really like that in this alternate universe? Or is he faking it again? Hmmmm.

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"Good morning Miyuki-chan!" Yuuto flashed a winning smile in his coworker's direction. She blushed and turned gave him a little wave. "And good morning to you too, Naomi-chan!" he winked as he walked past another coworker, smiling to himself as she stammered a semi-coherent response. There were definitely advantages to working in a mostly-female office, Yuuto thought to himself once again and sat down at his desk. Then pandemonium struck.

Every screen in the government building suddenly went blank and everyone around him swore under their breaths and tried to reboot or fix their computers. Yuuto raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, watching the black screen calmly. He was unsurprised when a message popped up on it and knew everyone else was reading the same thing, a note announcing that they would have control of their system once certain demands were met. There was more cursing and some telephoning and Yuuto sighed, bored without anything to do. Then an idea struck him. He glanced around, making sure that everyone else was distracted then did exactly what he knew he was not supposed to do.

He typed a response.

Hi! :)

He waited a few minutes and when there was no sign of an answer he added:

Hacking into our system today? :)

A message popped up below it.

Yes.

He grinned and typed back.

Well that sounds like fun. How's it going?

…

He chuckled.

Not one for wasting words are you?

Not one for giving anything unnecessary away.

Ooooh you think I'm the police or security.

Aren't you?

Haha, no, I'm just a lowly salary man at the bottom of the bureaucratic totem pole.

Then what are you doing?

I'm talking to you of course. And looking for the pen I just accidentally knocked under the desk.

Why?

Because it's my favorite pen, it's a Mont Blanc, those aren't cheap you know.

I meant why are you talking to me.

Oh. Hm, because I'm bored. :) I have work to get done actually but I can't right now with the system down like this.

Yuuto was rather disappointed when the screen returned to normal after that message and sighed, readying himself for another typical day's work when a small instant messenger box appeared in the corner of the screen.

There.

He heard a coworker swear under her breath and looked up to discover that no one else's screen had returned to normal. He laughed and began typing a response.

.

.

Kotori was in an especially good mood that morning. The sky was mostly clear, and a few birds were singing happily as she walked by and she found herself wishing them all a good morning much to her sister's amusement.

"It just seems silly, it's not like they can answer you." She remarked as Kotori waved to the little cluster of feathery bodies.

"I know, but I sort of feel like I should somehow thank them for making my walk to school so pleasant you know? Besides, I'm in a really good mood today Saya Onee-chan!"

"Oh?" Saya turned to face her, "Why's that?"

"I had another good dream last night!" Kotori smiled and waved to their neighbors as well.

"What about?"

"Ah, the same as the one I told you I had yesterday. About someone named Kamui coming. Only…" Kotori blushed and held a finger to her lips. "Only in this one I fell in love with him." She laughed at herself. "You probably find that silly though, huh Onee-chan?"

Saya shook her head, golden waves of hair falling in a curtain over her shoulder.

"No. I had a dream about falling in love last night too."

"Ara? Really? Do you think it's a sign?" Kotori asked, excited. "What was the boy in your dream like?"

Saya blushed and looked down at the snow.

"Hm?" Kotori started to ask what was wrong when they reached the school.

"I'll see you later little sis!" Saya waved as she broke off toward the college section of CLAMP campus.

"I hear the new girl is really pretty." A friend of hers announced, coming up beside her.

"New girl?" Saya tilted her head.

"Yeah, we have someone new in our chemistry class supposedly."

"Hm." Saya looked up at the sky, daydreaming, when suddenly a shout distracted her.

The suspension wires from a beam being lifted onto a new building under construction were snapping and it was threatening to fall. Saya had just enough time to register that someone was walking beneath it, staring at a map and leapt forward to push the girl out of the way. The beam fell with a ground-shaking thud, spraying both of them with dust and Saya coughed, waiting for it to clear so she could see.

"Are you okay?"

"Ah! I'm sorry" she looked up and started to apologize to the person she had knocked over.

The girl chuckled. "Sorry? You just saved me there." The dust began to settle. "Eh? Do I know you?"

Saya gasped and covered her mouth when she saw the girl's face. She shook her head no, feeling suddenly shy.

The girl gave her a confused look. "Oh sorry. But thank you…?"

"Saya." She squeaked.

She stood and pulled Saya to her feet as well. "I'm Tooru. Tooru Magami."

.

.

Kamui sighed and pushed the chair back from the computer. He had been searching the internet for hours now for any sign of his mother, only to find that she was only twenty years old right now. It was a relief to know she was still alive but he couldn't help but feel somewhat dejected that she apparently was not his mother here. He wished he hadn't insisted that Subaru go to work instead of staying home and helping him search, but he already felt like he was being such a burden and intruder. Then again if Seishirou hadn't already left for work that morning he would have probably wanted Subaru to stay. He frowned and picked at a loose thread on the too loose jeans he was wearing. The man was still creepy as far as Kamui was concerned and seeing him act upbeat and kind was even creepier. Besides, one just didn't think of the Sakurazukamori as a normal person who ate and showered and slept and went to work just like everyone else. Then again maybe in a place like this, dark things just didn't fit and Seishirou had adapted. He wondered if he could and studied the raised lines of scars crisscrossing his arms and hands.

An idea struck him and he pulled the chair forward again and searched Tokiko Magami. He was surprised to recognize his former aunt in a picture that popped up and even more surprised when he realized what it was a picture of. He scrolled down and skimmed the article below in shock. He leaned back from the screen, processing this information. So Aunt Tokiko had married Kotori and Fuuma's father? Then… where did that leave Aunt Saya? And what about Kotori and Fuuma? He drew his feet up on the chair, wrapping his arms around his knees. Were they not alive here? Kamui could feel his spirits sinking when the front door opened and Subaru walked up beside him.

"I got off early." He explained. "I'm sorry, I just didn't like leaving you here all alone…" he trailed off and Kamui recognized a look of guilt that danced across his face. "Did you have any luck?"

Kamui shook his head, dark locks brushing across his forehead. He explained what he'd found as Subaru prepared lunch then sat on the counter next to him, letting the older man take in everything he had gone over.

"Hey Subaru? So you know Sakurazuka-san and your sister are still alive but you hadn't met Sorata or Yuzuriha before now? Do you know any of the other dragons?"

Subaru hopped up on the counter next to him, passing him a bowl. "Yeah. You remember the dreamseer that worked for the angels?"

"Kakyou?"

"Yup. He's Hokuto's secretary." Subaru toyed with the noodles for a moment, smiling to himself. "I think he has a crush on her actually."

Kamui raised an eyebrow.

"But it seems like he's too shy to say anything." Subaru tapped the chopsticks against his lower lip thoughtfully. "I'm kind of surprised that Hokuto hasn't asked him out though. Anyway. Karen works for Hokuto's company too." Subaru shifted somewhat uncomfortably. "She used to be a lingerie model actually."

Kamui snorted at the appropriateness of this. "That does sound like Ms. Kasumi."

"Ah, that's another thing. It's not Karen Kasumi anymore. She's Karen Aoki. I've never met her husband but I bet it's Seiichiro…" Subaru froze, something having just occurred to him and laughed.

"What?"

"I just realized- I didn't know this before but one of the other angels is their son. I think his name was Nataku? I wonder if their daughter was one of them too…"

"Eh? But wouldn't you know if she were?" Kamui immediately wished he hadn't said anything. Neither of them had brought up Subaru's disappearance or switching sides before and he didn't know quite what to say about it but the thought did suddenly remind him of the abandonment he had felt. His chest tightened slightly and he clutched at the bowl, aware of the silence that had fallen in the kitchen.

Subaru laid down his chopsticks, his noodles still half unfinished. "I didn't meet all of them." He answered softly and slid off the counter to put the leftovers away. "But I think those are the only dragons that I still know. But as you saw yesterday, Sorata and Yuzuriha appear to be around and okay so I guess the other probably are too."

"You don't know anything about Arashi?" Kamui asked, realizing that she was the only seal unaccounted for.

Subaru shook his head. "I've never seen her. I bet if anyone knows where she is, it would be Sorata."

Kamui hesitated. "I don't know actually… she disappeared too…" he trailed off.

"What?"

"Right before that last battle we went to visit Sorata in the hospital and he said she'd gone missing… I think Hinoto had something to do with it."

Subaru froze. He hadn't wanted to think about the past, about what happened at rainbow bridge but something struck him that he realized he hadn't wondered about before.

"Hey Kamui, you and Arashi showed up that day- the day Seishirou- the day at rainbow bridge." He choked.

"Yeah." Kamui replied quickly, cutting him off.

"But the others; weren't they all gathered when we got back to Imonoyama mansion?"

"Yes…" Kamui turned this over in his mind. "Hinoto said that the temple was going to be destroyed…"

"She told me the bridge was going to be the next kekkai to be destroyed."

The two of them stared at one another in silence for a long moment.

"You haven't seen her here have you?" Kamui asked darkly.

"No, but I wonder if she would have her memories even if we found her…"

Kamui glared and Subaru quickly tried to diffuse his anger somewhat. "Aren't you forgetting to ask about someone?"

Kamui's eyes dropped and he stared at his hands. "I haven't forgotten… I'm just… afraid to ask I guess."

"Why's that?"

"I don't remember what happened… I was afraid…" Kamui felt his own voice grow thick with tears. "that you would tell me I killed him."

Subaru sat back down on the counter beside him and wrapped an arm around Kamui. "No. The last thing I remember, he was still alive." Subaru didn't mention that he was standing over Kamui, ready to plunge a sword through his heart.

Kamui clutched at his shirt. "Do you think Kotori is still alive?"

Subaru pulled the boy closer, resting his chin on his head. "I don't know, but if everything else is normal, then maybe she and Fuuma are both around here somewhere, living ordinary lives."

Kamui smiled into his shoulder. "Thank goodness…"

.

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That afternoon, Yuzuriha raced home from school, Sorata trailing behind her breathlessly. The second she returned to their apartment she called for Inuki, who didn't get up from his spot by the sofa but wagged his tail, tongue lolling happily at her arrival.

"What are you doing?" Sorata asked as she gathered the puppy into her arms and headed back for the door.

"Going to the trainer that vet recommended!" she cried over her shoulder.

"What? But the dog is still injured, he probably can't do anything yet." Sorata flopped onto the sofa.

"I know but we should probably sign up for lessons or something, don't you think? Now come on you lazy bum!" She tossed a plushy that had been left on the floor at him.

Sorata gasped and caught the toy. "Yuzu-chan! Don't hurt Mr. Purple Monkey-san!" He chastised her sternly.

Yuzuriha rolled her eyes. "All these years you've had him? You've probably done way more damage to it than I ever could. Remember the time you took it to the beach and an octopus tried to steal it? That was the funniest game of tug of war I have ever seen."

"Be that as it may," Sorata replied, pulling on his shoes. "You should still treat him with respect. He's your elder you know."

"No he isn't." Yuzuriha bounded down the apartment stairway, Inuki yipping all the way. "I was there when Aunt Mayura bought him for you."

"Yes he is! He's 237 years old!" Sorata informed her very seriously. "In fact his 238th birthday is in two days."

"Will you be baking a cake?"

"I was thinking chocolate with purple icing and sprinkles."

"Ooo."

"Oh this must be it." Sorata paused in front of the training facility and they let themselves in.

They were greeted by an enormous man with a rough-and-tumble look about him who was sitting on the ground petting a dog of his own.

"Hi there! I'm Yuzuriha Nekoi! I'm fifteen!" the girl announced.

"I'm Kusanagi Shiyu, I'm a little more than fifteen." He grinned and shook her free hand then took to scratching Inuki behind his ears, provoking an eager tail wagging session from the puppy and a beam from the girl. "You look like a good dog. What can I do for you three?"

"We need to sign up for dog training!" Yuzuriha declared.

"Well then, right this way." He smiled warmly at her.

Sorata thoughtfully watched the two of them make their way to a reception desk then grinned to himself.

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Gah I hated writing that scene with Kamui and Subaru. It just seemed so boring. _ But I decided to make up for it with a cute Yuzu/Sora/Kusa scene. ^_^ Oh and I loooved Tooru and Saya together (mostly cuz I felt like they were just so pretty together *_*) but I always felt really bad for Saya's husband so I thought I should make up for it somehow. XD I dunno. Whatever. He's not left out again. :P