inkpawprints (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
inkpawprints) wrote2008-06-14 11:37 am
inkpawprints) wrote2008-06-14 11:37 am
Entry tags:
Still alive!
Despite any presumptions to the contrary, I am still alive just not always present. Suffice to say full-time work, court cases, apartment renovations/management, social life, cosplay, part-time study, etc., means writing has been pushed off to the side in my list of priorities.
(Oh, and my desktop computer crashed as well, taking my music, media, fics, site and writing with it. Luckily most of my writing is backed up on my laptop, as for everything else ... well, they're inaccessible until I get a new computer and new OS.)
But until I get everything back to normal again (hopefully sometime next month when everything settles down), have something to read.
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Nukume Dori
Annex V
It was supposed to have been an easy job. His investigation had shown that the target's spiritual power was nothing compared to his and she was in every other respect an ordinary woman with no combat ability, so Seishirou had expected nothing more than a simple walk in, simple walk out of an assassination. True, there was a slight complication in that Subaru was also investigating the MS Institute, however whereas Hokuto was sharp enough to not only suspect the veterinarian's smile but also hold a knife to his throat Subaru for all his attempts at growing up was too naïve, too idealistic, and quite frankly too gullible to pose any serious risk. Seishirou had considered the young Sumeragi's involvement an inconvenience at most and been confident that a sleep spell would be more than sufficient to ensure his task would be carried out without interference.
Seishirou couldn't have been more wrong. Worst still, he couldn't have reacted more badly. The shout from that person had shattered his focus in the middle of the kill, and when he had turned to find that person not only awake but on his feet attempting to stop the woman's death, the instinct to kill had taken over with particular viciousness because not only was no one supposed to witness the Sakurazukamori at work and live, the interruption had come just at the moment of binding before Seishirou could give the soul to the Sakura. Anger, too, had been a large part of his reaction, which under any other circumstances Seishirou would have found fascinating, and also admittedly bruised pride as well for it was downright embarrassing to be ambushed so by a boy marked as prey, and even though Seishirou had recovered almost immediately he could never take back that moment of shock. And that had only been the beginning of the evening's nasty surprises …
Fractures in time. The bombshell that Subaru already knew he was the Sakurazukamori. Hokuto's apparent death at his hands, and his and Subaru's own deaths at each other's on the Final Day. The confession that Subaru loved him. Seishirou had been looking for answers to explain Subaru's behaviour and he had got them in spades to the point that he didn't know what to believe. Subaru knowing that he was the Sakurazukamori was one thing, but going back in time? It was too far-fetched, too fantastical even for Seishirou who as an onmyouji had a broader definition than most of what was and was not possible, and yet …
And yet. If Subaru's story was true it would make a lot of things make sense, not the least being Subaru's metamorphosis in character. Seishirou had thought for weeks that the boy's behaviour was odd, but to see Subaru so calm in the face of murder was an extreme so far removed from the child Seishirou knew it was like a seeing completely different person – which, if Subaru was to be believed, was exactly what he was. A different person, more mature, more adult and who knew Seishirou's true identity, only Subaru had deliberately hidden it all beneath a guise of wide-eyed naiveté. And Seishirou had been completely and utterly deceived.
Lights from an approaching car caught them like moths. Seishirou glared at the profile silhouetted before him, the whimsical, childish haircut and the skin showing above the coat collar, and squashed once again the urge to slam his hand through the Sumeragi's ribcage. Such a desire was nothing more than a reaction against the embarrassment – nay, near humiliation – he had experienced, and having lost his self-control once he was not about to let it happen again, certainly not a public street. He was Sakurazukamori; he would not permit his will to be usurped by impulse no matter how badly he had been shocked, but rather, would regain control through whatever means necessary, which at the moment meant going out for dinner with his prey. They had been walking for a while now, Seishirou carefully keeping two or three steps behind the Sumeragi at all times as they wove through the crowds, and other than an occasional brief exchange to confirm directions it had taken place in complete silence. It was an arrangement that suited Seishirou just fine; he had enough to think about as it was without the added burden of loaded conversation, and even if he wasn't getting anywhere fast with the thinking, at the very least he hoped he was making the Sumeragi feel damned uncomfortable.
Seishirou did not appreciate being made to look like a fool.
Up ahead, Subaru was approaching a lit doorway flanked by a pair of stone lions. "Is this it?" he asked, turning a little to ask the question over his shoulder.
Seishirou carefully schooled his face into a smiling mask – he would not let Subaru see how unsettled he was. "That's it. Ask for a table up the back where it's quieter."
A curt nod was his only reply, and then the Sumeragi turned towards the stone lions to open the door between them and step inside. Seishirou did the same a moment later to find Subaru greeting a cheongsam-clad waitress with a self-assurance that seemed incongruous with the sixteen-year-old Seishirou considered the epitome of shyness, before being led to one of the tables towards the back beside a wooden room divider. The divider was decorated with carved koi swimming through lotus flowers, but right now aesthetics came second to extra privacy. Removing his coat Seishirou claimed the stronger chair at the table, leaving the other to Subaru which was somewhat hemmed in by neighbouring customers and more difficult to access. "Would you two like some tea?" asked the smiling waitress as he sat down.
"Yes please, chrysanthemum if you have it," Seishirou replied, gaze never moving from his companion. He noted the wariness on Subaru's face as he manoeuvred his way into the other chair, placing his bag and coat beneath the table. "As for dishes there's only the two of us, so a vegetable hot pot and your roast duck with steamed rice will be fine."
Politely the waitress bowed and disappeared, the order apparently recorded on a mental notepad. Seishirou and Subaru were left alone to face each other across the table.
Neither of them spoke.
Minutes passed, filled with the background sound of cutlery and quiet murmurs. Seishirou ignored it and detachedly studied the face before him, the childish face framed by soft black hair, the large green eyes that gazed at him with a tension that grew increasingly uneasy with each passing moment. Eventually tea was brought which forced a murmured thank you from the Sumeragi, but as soon as the waitress left again the silence returned more awkward than before. Seishirou was determined not to be the one who broke it, something he made pointedly clear by taking out his cigarettes and lighter, because as petty as it was he was determined to win at least one battle tonight—
"I'm sorry," said Subaru suddenly.
"What for?" Seishirou asked neutrally.
"For not telling you earlier. About everything."
Seishirou couldn't help but smile a little; the boy looked so serious it was almost comical. Perhaps this new Subaru wasn't so new after all. "You don't have to apologise, Subaru-kun," said Seishirou calmly, tapping a cigarette out from the carton with steady hands. "Your reasons for not saying anything are perfectly understandable – though, please, don't let me stop you if you insist on feeling guilty. Why don't you pour the tea."
For a moment Subaru stared at him, disbelief tingeing his face. Then he sighed and picked up the teapot. "You don't have to do this," he said quietly as he filled Seishirou's cup.
"Do what?"
"Pretend everything is all right."
Imperceptibly, Seishirou's fingers tightened on the cigarette carton. Seen. "Why do you say that?"
"Seishirou-san, you just found out that your entire act hasn't worked," said Subaru patiently, pouring out the second cup. "Not only that, you found out that everything you thought about me was wrong. Even if you are the Sakurazukamori you can't try and tell me you don't care about this – you don't like losing control."
Tension, a sour tightness in his chest … once again Seishirou realised that he was angry, angry that Subaru had measured him so accurately, angry that anger had in one evening become so recognisable to him already … he sensed the Sakura stir at the back of his mind, its slumber disturbed by his mental state, and sharply shut it up. Not yet. "Interesting bit of insight you have there," said Seishirou coolly, lighting his cigarette and taking care to keep his expression guarded. "Would you prefer it if I tried to kill you again?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Subaru retorted. "I'm just saying that you have to have questions."
"Hm." Deliberately Seishirou sat back in his chair, took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled, willing the anger-tension to mix with the smoke and expel from his body with only partial success. "Very well, answer me this: if this time reversal story of yours is true, how come you're the only one who remembers anything?"
"I don't know. I did think at first maybe it was because I was involved with the Final Day, but then I realised you didn't remember any of it so that can't be the reason. I have no idea why else it could be."
"Did you ask any of the other Dragons?"
Subaru shook his head as he sipped his tea. "Most of the ones on my side would be children in this time and I don’t know where to find them. I know nothing about the Dragons of Earth other than you."
"What about the Kamui?"
"Kamui right now would be a seven-year-old boy. He's best friends with his twin star who is another older boy with a younger sister, and the sister destined to die at one or the other Kamuis' hand. All three of them are very close childhood friends so even if I knew where to find them I'm not going to go disturb their lives, especially if they don't remember."
"That's very considerate, but it means that I have only your word that what you say is true. Why should I believe you?"
There was a small sigh. "I know I can't prove anything, but it is all true. All I can do is ask you to trust me."
"Trust." An unpleasant smile stretched Seishirou's face. "The thirteenth head of the Sumeragi is asking the Sakurazukamori to trust him after acting out a deception for the past two months."
"You can hardly act the wronged party!" Subaru shot back. "You lied to me about your true self ever since the Bet started!"
Seishirou acknowledged this with a sardonic shrug. "Still, until I get something a little more concrete about this time reversal than 'your word', Subaru-kun, all I'm going to give you is the benefit of the doubt." He tapped off the end of his cigarette. "Does Hokuto-chan know?"
"No. And I don't plan on telling her."
"Why not?"
Green eyes met his steadily from across the table. "She's supposed to be dead," said Subaru quietly. "Stabbed through the heart by the hand of someone she called friend. I can't tell her that … and I'm hoping you won't either."
Seishirou raised an eyebrow. "You want me to keep up appearances in front of Hokuto-chan?"
"I want you to take care so that Hokuto-chan doesn't find out."
So of their little trio only Hokuto was still completely ignorant of the situation, or at least, Subaru thought she was. Privately Seishirou thought that Subaru wasn't giving his sister enough credit – that baking afternoon had been a startling display of the girl's perception – and he wouldn't be surprised to find out Hokuto knew far more than she was letting on to her brother. The whole thing seemed to have become a complicated three way he-knew-she-knew-they-knew, and it was unclear just who was holding the most valuable cards though Seishirou had a bad feeling it wasn't him. It was not a position he was used to – and he didn't like it one bit.
Dishes arrived then, a heavy clay bowl of vegetables and a plate of duck with roasted skin gleaming in the low light. A plastic blue rice-pot was set down beside the room divider. Seishirou ignored the waitress, stabbing out his cigarette and leaving the thanks to Subaru who immediately began to serve. Clouds of steam billowed up to the ceiling as Subaru opened the rice-pot, softening the image of his hands for a moment, and Seishirou found himself staring at them, the long fingers curled around the porcelain bowl and fair skin seemingly unblemished to normal eyes. Even dormant the marks called to Seishirou and he had to make a conscious effort to resist as he remembered how it had felt to hold those hands again after all these years. The boy's hands had been remarkably warm beneath his lips, soft, too, since after years of concealment they were completely untouched …
Untouched. Subaru in that girl's coma dream had lost an eye. "In this future of yours, are you half-blind?" asked Seishirou suddenly.
The reaction was immediate; Subaru froze in the act of setting down his bowl of rice and looked up to stare. "How did you know that?" he demanded. "I thought you didn't remember."
"I don't. I saw you during that little job of yours in the Ebisu hospital where you had to wake that coma girl – or didn't you ever wonder where that shikigami came from?"
"No, I realised that was you, I just never said anything." Seishirou's eyes darkened at this, and Subaru shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "So you really did See me then? Why didn't you ask me about it?"
"You weren't supposed to know that I helped you out," Seishirou retorted, perhaps just a little sharply as he reached out to get some food. "So? Why do you only have one eye in this future?"
There was a slight flush on Subaru's face. "I … lost my eye in a battle during the Final Year," he said.
"Was it my doing?"
"No, it was the Dark Kamui. He—" Subaru broke off.
"He what?"
Green eyes clouded over before looking away. "He caught me off-guard."
"Seishirou-san?"
Blink – the moment was gone, flickering out of reach like a tiny gnat. It left Seishirou with a slight shiver, but that was easily concealed with a cold smile. "Off-guard, you say? Well, I hope for your Kamui's sake that his other Dragons of Heaven are more disciplined soldiers than you.” He helped himself to some food. “So, what are they like? The two Kamui, I mean."
Subaru's expression grew distant. "Kamui – the Kamui, the one who gets to choose between Heaven and Earth … someone so young shouldn't have to decide the fate of the world, let alone fight for it. He's only sixteen when 1999 happens, and an orphan, and despite his sullenness he's a very kind person. In a way that kindness makes his destiny all more the tragic because Kamui has to lose so much …"
Gradually a picture was painted, drawn in words with Subaru's characteristic compassion. Attentively Seishirou listened as Subaru described for him a boy who hid a generous, loving heart beneath an attitude of stubborn self-reliance, a boy destined to suffer and watch his closest loved ones die or worse, have to fight them, a boy that Subaru would be sworn to protect …
"We had a lot in common, perhaps too much, since like me Kamui also had to watch a special person killed by another special person, and because of that we became friends."
… there was something strange, something more than sympathy in Subaru's voice as he spoke of Kamui, something that Seishirou didn't like. "And the other Kamui?" he asked abruptly.
Cut off mid-sentence Subaru blinked at him. "The other Kamui I don't really know," he replied, sounding a little uneasy. "His real name is Fuuma and he was – is, Kamui's closest friend. From what Kamui told me Fuuma is a very caring person with a fierce sense of responsibility to his younger sister Kotori, but as the one destined to be defined against Kamui when Kamui chose to be a Dragon of Heaven Fuuma automatically took the opposing place as a Dragon of Earth. When that happened the personality of Fuuma was overtaken by the Dark Kamui. The Dark Kamui isn't so much a person so much as a force focused on destruction, and the first thing he did was kill his own sister as Kamui watched …"
The words trailed off, the emerald eyes shadowing as if seeing a bad memory. Seishirou found it irritating. "Are they strong?" he asked.
"In terms of power? Very. They have the power to represent or hunt the majesty of the gods, but they differ greatly in how they wield that power. Fuuma – I mean, the Dark Kamui, he has no hesitation in fighting Kamui and doesn't care about the death and destruction he causes. Kamui on the other hand—"
"—doesn't want to watch people die let alone kill his friend, I can see where this is going," finished Seishirou, nodding thoughtfully. "Interesting. And it's upon their shoulders that the fate of the world rests. You would think teenage boys would be the last people upon whom to pin such responsibility, but if that's what destiny has foreordained so be it. But presuming that everything you say is true, what does it mean? Is the Final Day to come again or has everything been decided?"
Subaru looked even more uneasy. "I don’t know. The past is now the present, so logically it means that 1999 is still to come, but arguably the Final Day has already happened and shouldn’t need to happen again … I can’t say."
"You really have no idea."
"No."
"Hmph. Which means, I suppose, the only thing to do is wait until we get to 1999 again. Ah well." Seishirou gestured with his chopsticks at the dishes between them. "Do eat up, the food's getting cold."
The point was made, the subject changed. Seishirou reached out for some more meat and vegetables – after tonight's events he wasn't feeling particularly hungry, but at least eating would excuse them both from talking for a little while. If Subaru noticed this he made no sign, slowly picking up his own chopsticks and starting with the vegetables, though he did give Seishirou a long, unreadable look as if weighing up and deciding against saying something. Seishirou found himself disconcerted. Used as he was all this time to a Subaru who would bend and wilt under everything he said, this deliberate passivity was something new entirely, and it was far too early for Seishirou to have any measure of it.
Could Subaru be telling the truth? Could they really have gone back in time to relive their lives? Common-sense and logic scoffed at the idea but given how much Subaru had told him in that much detail … Seishirou could not be sure. There was doubt, an uncertainty that kept saying maybe, maybe it's all true, maybe things are more than they seem and maybe you can trust him. Actually it was not unlike the quiet impulse that had made Seishirou give his true birthday in that silly compatibility test with Subaru, an association that disturbed Seishirou greatly. To this day Seishirou hadn't quite figured out why exactly he had done something as risky as revealing his birth details to the head of the Sumeragi, but it had felt rather like he had conceded something. A surrender, in fact. But what exactly had he surrendered to?
Thick silence between them. Subaru was looking at him again, he could feel it. "Can I ask you something?" the boy asked.
"What is it?"
"Last night when you came over for dinner … why did you leave so suddenly?"
Imperceptibly Seishirou’s fingers tightened. Last night’s flirting had started out as an impulsive bit of fun that had ended up as something far more serious. From the very beginning of the Bet Seishirou had set limits upon himself with regards to how far he could take his act with the admittedly attractive Sumeragi, with the policy being that he could only go as far as the boy was willing. As things turned out Subaru was not only ridiculously naïve but shy to the point of displaying something close to fear every time the subject of intimacy with Seishirou was brought up, yet despite the temptation Seishirou had adhered to his limits as a point of pride in his self-control – at least until last night. Last night Seishirou had found himself a kiss away from saying to hell with the Bet’s rules, and to have his self-control challenged so seriously by his prey, especially now with these new revelations ...
—"Exactly the reasons I said," Seishirou replied curtly – there was something in that line of thought he didn't want to think about yet, and besides, this was not the time to be distracted. "I had work the next day, and besides, it didn’t look as if you wanted to play."
Subaru reddened a little at this but his expression was accusing. "By 'work' you mean killing Kumiko-sensei, right?"
"Actually I was referring to my day job. Believe it or not, Subaru-kun, I do have other things to do than kill people. Speaking of that teacher, what were you so worked up about when I walked into the office anyway?"
The green eyes looked a little embarrassed. "I … I was angry. Kumiko-sensei made me angry, I mean. She had just told me that Hashimoto-san had been stabbed by the bullies at her school, which was bad enough, but then Kumiko-sensei said that what had happened was all Hashimoto-san’s fault. The way she viewed it Hashimoto-san was being punished because she too weak to forgive the ones who hurt her … it hit a little close to home." Unexpectedly Subaru gave a soft laugh but there was no mirth in the sound. "And then Kumiko-sensei said that she could sense my suffering and offered to save me from myself. I told her that there was no way that she could possibly understand the problems I was facing and that she couldn’t save anybody – for all her power and good intentions she was a fraud offering a salvation she couldn’t give." Seishirou said nothing to this, nor did he give Subaru any attention as the boy looked at him. "Was it really necessary?" Subaru asked.
"Was what really necessary."
"Kumiko-sensei. Was it really necessary to kill her?"
Seishirou smiled coldly across the table. "Let’s just say it was expedient. Why, Subaru-kun, having second thoughts about me?"
"No, I'm not. I just wanted to hear a reason."
"From where I’m sitting I’d say you’ve just given some reasons yourself," Seishirou replied, resuming his meal and ignoring the green glare that was shot at him. "In any case it’s done now so I advise you to get over it."
Subaru ignored this. "What about in general then?"
"What do you mean."
"If you won't tell why you killed Kumiko-sensei, then what about people in general?"
"Curious, are you? Why don’t you ask your grandmother, I’m sure she would have lots to say."
"She does, and she has. Her view is that centuries ago your clan corrupted the onmyouji tradition that our family upholds, and you kill in order to maintain and gain more power.”
"And do you share this view?"
"I believe you're more complicated than that."
To this Seishirou could only smile. "I'm an assassin, Subaru-kun. That means I kill people at the request of other people and get paid for it, however don’t for one minute think that makes me a yakuza’s hit-man for hire. I choose what assignments to accept and from which clients – and believe me, the names on my client list run just as high as yours. Some of them are even the same." Seishirou's smile grew at the rigid look on Subaru’s face and he let his voice grow soft. "However. There are other assignments, assignments that 'need to be done' as a measure determined not by some paying third party but divined by powers less than material. Assignments that could target even those clients who have called on me in the past. I have my place in the order of things, and that place is just as necessary as yours. As for the rest … it’s because I can."
Silence, finally, from the other side of the table. Subaru’s green eyes were flat. "I see," he said at last, and then purposefully drank his tea as if to physically stop himself from commenting any further.
Seishirou chuckled. "If it's any consolation, Subaru-kun, my Bet with you certainly wasn't any 'assignment'; it was purely something for myself and if I kill you it will be for those same reasons. Do you plan on finishing your dinner or shall I ask for the bill?”
Subaru blinked, glanced down at his half-eaten plate, then shook his head and pushed it away. At any other time Seishirou would have made some quip about how Hokuto expected him to make sure Subaru ate properly, but after everything that had happened tonight such jokes felt asinine. He needed space, he realised as he waved the waitress over to give her his credit card, space to think about and analyse everything he had found out tonight and decide how to proceed, and more importantly, space away from the damned Sumeragi who was the cause of everything.
Except he couldn't stay away forever, or even for too long. There was still about two months left in the Bet, and Seishirou had given his word that it would continue. Being a law unto himself his word was far more binding than any rule could be, and Seishirou had too much pride to call off a game just because he didn’t like the way things were going. Until the Bet was over, he would have to stay with Subaru.
Seishirou couldn’t help but feel somewhat trapped.
A flash of red, and the waitress reappeared with the receipt. "If you just sign here, please," she said, handing Seishirou a pen. "Did you enjoy your meal?"
It was automatic now, to switch to that other persona, the one he wore in front of other people. The other persona that was now useless on Subaru. "Oh yes, it was just what we needed. Don't mind Subaru-kun's plate there; he never eats much."
"'He' – you mean, he's a boy?" The waitress stared at Subaru, who immediately turned pink under the attention, and her expression grew mortified. "I'm sorry, I thought all this time your companion was a girl and you were on a date!"
"Subaru-kun gets mistaken for a girl a lot, don't you, my dear." Subaru muttered something under his breath, shifting uncomfortably as the waitress bowed and apologised profusely. Seishirou's grin widened. "But I wouldn’t worry, onee-san, you were correct about one thing. We are on a date."
To this the waitress reacted much as Seishirou expected – wide eyes, at loss for words and so forth – but that was unimportant. Across the table Subaru’s pink face was averted towards the floor, his attitude one of obvious embarrassment as the waitress looked between the two of them in shock. Seishirou felt his smile twist a little – now there was the Subaru he was familiar with, and given everything that had happened tonight it was a rather pleasurable sight …
Perhaps there was some advantage in this new order of things.
There was a sound of scraping chair legs as Subaru hastily stood and grabbed his things to go. Since the waitress was apparently still trying to wrap her head around the idea of a man and a boy on a date Seishirou retrieved his card and left the pen with signed receipt on the table for her to belatedly scramble after as he left. Subaru was pointedly not looking at him, but Seishirou put a hand in the small of his back anyway to effortlessly guide his ‘date’ through the tables and other diners to the exit and then hold open the door. Assassin he may be, one thing Subaru could never fault him for was a lack of courtesy and consideration – and besides, playing up for an audience was always amusing.
Cold air and an audible change in noise level as they stepped over the restaurant’s threshold. Seishirou let the door swing closed. "Well, this has been a fun night," he said pulling on his coat. "Is there going to be a third act or do we start again tomorrow?"
Seishirou had spoken brightly but he kept a careful eye on the Sumeragi, again taking care to position himself so that it was impossible for the boy to make any surprising moves. Not that it seemed to be needed – there was still a fair bit of pedestrian traffic around and Subaru had his now bare hands buried in his coat pockets for warmth – but still. "I … think I’m going to go home," said Subaru slowly. "Hokuto-chan might be back already, and I don’t want her to worry. Tomorrow I’d like to see Hashimoto-san."
"What for?"
"The attack put her in hospital. She doesn't have friends who would visit her, so I want to check on how she's going."
"Suit yourself. Would you like me to drive you?"
Subaru blinked at him as if startled by the offer. "Are you sure?"
"Why wouldn’t I be? My schedule at the clinic tomorrow is fairly light."
For a moment Subaru stared at him, but then a shy smile appeared on his face. "It would be nice if you drove, yes."
"Then I shall pick you and Hokuto-chan up at, say, eleven in the morning? We can go out to lunch later – unless, of course, you know of something important happening tomorrow we should prepare for, a major earthquake for example?" Subaru shook his head. "Then I shall see you tomorrow."
He gave a slight bow, courteous, as always, to the end. It was also a decidedly cooler and more distant farewell than what he usually gave to Subaru when acting out his veterinarian’s façade, a subtle point that didn’t miss Subaru, who looked a little uncertain as he returned the bow. Not that the Sumeragi said anything, giving Seishirou a feeling of being indulged in, only glancing over his shoulder once as he began to walk – hurriedly – away.
It seemed that both of them were rather glad to get away from each other.
An endless staccato of heels and shoes passing left and right. Restlessly Seishirou watched Subaru disappear into the stream of people; part of him still wanted to follow and hunt the boy down, to kill him as soon as possible not only for the humiliation of tonight but to eliminate what was now a very real threat, but that was also the part of him that felt anger and Seishirou refused to let it be his guide. Besides, he had already given his word that the Bet would continue and Seishirou was far from ready to admit defeat—
Something was watching him.
Seishirou didn’t react. Deliberately he reached into his pocket for his cigarettes, tapped one out and lit it, looking for all the world like any other man enjoying a smoke. As he did so he leaned back against one of the restaurant’s stone lions, casually scanning the street before him as his mind delicately looked for … there. A single spark of magic, four stories up across the street in the form of a bird. No, not a bird, a shikigami. One with a distinctly Sumeragi signature.
Grey smoke clouded his face as Seishirou let his probe quietly diffuse, silently swearing under his breath. As if his night wasn’t bad enough already … with narrowed eyes he looked up; now that he knew where the shikigami was he could see it, a speck of pure white against a darkened office window on the far side of the road. The problem was that if he could see the shikigami the shikigami could certainly see him, but the question was how long had it been watching and what had it seen. Seishirou was certain it hadn't been around when he and Subaru had entered the restaurant, and by default he always kept his aura concealed so he was confident it was highly unlikely that the shikigami – most probably Lady Sumeragi’s since it certainly wasn’t Subaru’s – could pick him out as someone out of the ordinary. His face however was a different matter—
The white speck suddenly spread wings. Seishirou immediately tensed, but he need not have worried. Instead of coming towards him the shikigami’s flight path was taking it down the street, following the direction in which Subaru had gone. Whether or not Lady Sumeragi had dismissed Seishirou as a person of interest it was impossible to tell, but what was interesting was how much of a distance her shikigami was keeping from Subaru. If he had to guess Seishirou would surmise that Lady Sumeragi had been alerted when the protective spell on Subaru’s gloves had been destroyed and was now checking up on him, but apparently she didn’t want Subaru to know she was checking on him. It made Seishirou smile; parents – or in this case, grandparent – were all the same when it came to their children. Thankfully for Seishirou he had killed his …
If Subaru had been telling the truth about the Final Day, did that mean—?
"Excuse me, but may I borrow a light?"
Irritated, Seishirou glanced up. Before him stood a young man, a teenager, really, older than Subaru but judging from his clothes obviously nowhere near as well brought up. He was holding an unlit cigarette; his other hand hung loose by his side. Harmless, but if there was one thing that Seishirou had learnt tonight was that looks were deceiving … with a shrug Seishirou held out his lighter, encouraging the stranger to come closer. He wasn't particularly surprised when the stranger sidled up to him to catch the flame, and he wasn't particularly surprised that when the stranger pulled away the pocket where he kept his wallet was noticeably lighter, however Seishirou refrained from reacting. Only after the stranger had thanked him and sauntered away did Seishirou crush his own finished cigarette and begin to quietly follow. Indulgent though this might be, there was something he needed to do.
Hours later, in the dead of night in Ueno Park with blood soaking through his sleeve, Seishirou patiently waited as the Sakura's branches slid languorously through the ragged hole in the pickpocket's chest, making the corpse twitch for a moment like some grotesque puppet before bursting through the skin in an explosion of tiny flowers. It cut off the soul's screaming like a beheading, and only then did Seishirou demand the Sakura's attention, opening his mind and letting it see and experience everything that had happened with Subaru, his revelations and claims. He presented it to the Sakura not so much as a story but as a feast, for while the Sakura had a consciousness it was one completely inhuman, and to it time and the order of things was less important than what. Then Seishirou asked his question.
Do you remember anything?
Rustle of branches like old bones. … No.
t.b.c.
Also, to everyone who has commented to be added to this journal over the past few weeks, I think I've added everyone but if I've missed you please comment here and I'll flail around and remedy my error immediately :O
(Oh, and my desktop computer crashed as well, taking my music, media, fics, site and writing with it. Luckily most of my writing is backed up on my laptop, as for everything else ... well, they're inaccessible until I get a new computer and new OS.)
But until I get everything back to normal again (hopefully sometime next month when everything settles down), have something to read.
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Nukume Dori
Annex V
It was supposed to have been an easy job. His investigation had shown that the target's spiritual power was nothing compared to his and she was in every other respect an ordinary woman with no combat ability, so Seishirou had expected nothing more than a simple walk in, simple walk out of an assassination. True, there was a slight complication in that Subaru was also investigating the MS Institute, however whereas Hokuto was sharp enough to not only suspect the veterinarian's smile but also hold a knife to his throat Subaru for all his attempts at growing up was too naïve, too idealistic, and quite frankly too gullible to pose any serious risk. Seishirou had considered the young Sumeragi's involvement an inconvenience at most and been confident that a sleep spell would be more than sufficient to ensure his task would be carried out without interference.
Seishirou couldn't have been more wrong. Worst still, he couldn't have reacted more badly. The shout from that person had shattered his focus in the middle of the kill, and when he had turned to find that person not only awake but on his feet attempting to stop the woman's death, the instinct to kill had taken over with particular viciousness because not only was no one supposed to witness the Sakurazukamori at work and live, the interruption had come just at the moment of binding before Seishirou could give the soul to the Sakura. Anger, too, had been a large part of his reaction, which under any other circumstances Seishirou would have found fascinating, and also admittedly bruised pride as well for it was downright embarrassing to be ambushed so by a boy marked as prey, and even though Seishirou had recovered almost immediately he could never take back that moment of shock. And that had only been the beginning of the evening's nasty surprises …
Fractures in time. The bombshell that Subaru already knew he was the Sakurazukamori. Hokuto's apparent death at his hands, and his and Subaru's own deaths at each other's on the Final Day. The confession that Subaru loved him. Seishirou had been looking for answers to explain Subaru's behaviour and he had got them in spades to the point that he didn't know what to believe. Subaru knowing that he was the Sakurazukamori was one thing, but going back in time? It was too far-fetched, too fantastical even for Seishirou who as an onmyouji had a broader definition than most of what was and was not possible, and yet …
And yet. If Subaru's story was true it would make a lot of things make sense, not the least being Subaru's metamorphosis in character. Seishirou had thought for weeks that the boy's behaviour was odd, but to see Subaru so calm in the face of murder was an extreme so far removed from the child Seishirou knew it was like a seeing completely different person – which, if Subaru was to be believed, was exactly what he was. A different person, more mature, more adult and who knew Seishirou's true identity, only Subaru had deliberately hidden it all beneath a guise of wide-eyed naiveté. And Seishirou had been completely and utterly deceived.
Lights from an approaching car caught them like moths. Seishirou glared at the profile silhouetted before him, the whimsical, childish haircut and the skin showing above the coat collar, and squashed once again the urge to slam his hand through the Sumeragi's ribcage. Such a desire was nothing more than a reaction against the embarrassment – nay, near humiliation – he had experienced, and having lost his self-control once he was not about to let it happen again, certainly not a public street. He was Sakurazukamori; he would not permit his will to be usurped by impulse no matter how badly he had been shocked, but rather, would regain control through whatever means necessary, which at the moment meant going out for dinner with his prey. They had been walking for a while now, Seishirou carefully keeping two or three steps behind the Sumeragi at all times as they wove through the crowds, and other than an occasional brief exchange to confirm directions it had taken place in complete silence. It was an arrangement that suited Seishirou just fine; he had enough to think about as it was without the added burden of loaded conversation, and even if he wasn't getting anywhere fast with the thinking, at the very least he hoped he was making the Sumeragi feel damned uncomfortable.
Seishirou did not appreciate being made to look like a fool.
Up ahead, Subaru was approaching a lit doorway flanked by a pair of stone lions. "Is this it?" he asked, turning a little to ask the question over his shoulder.
Seishirou carefully schooled his face into a smiling mask – he would not let Subaru see how unsettled he was. "That's it. Ask for a table up the back where it's quieter."
A curt nod was his only reply, and then the Sumeragi turned towards the stone lions to open the door between them and step inside. Seishirou did the same a moment later to find Subaru greeting a cheongsam-clad waitress with a self-assurance that seemed incongruous with the sixteen-year-old Seishirou considered the epitome of shyness, before being led to one of the tables towards the back beside a wooden room divider. The divider was decorated with carved koi swimming through lotus flowers, but right now aesthetics came second to extra privacy. Removing his coat Seishirou claimed the stronger chair at the table, leaving the other to Subaru which was somewhat hemmed in by neighbouring customers and more difficult to access. "Would you two like some tea?" asked the smiling waitress as he sat down.
"Yes please, chrysanthemum if you have it," Seishirou replied, gaze never moving from his companion. He noted the wariness on Subaru's face as he manoeuvred his way into the other chair, placing his bag and coat beneath the table. "As for dishes there's only the two of us, so a vegetable hot pot and your roast duck with steamed rice will be fine."
Politely the waitress bowed and disappeared, the order apparently recorded on a mental notepad. Seishirou and Subaru were left alone to face each other across the table.
Neither of them spoke.
Minutes passed, filled with the background sound of cutlery and quiet murmurs. Seishirou ignored it and detachedly studied the face before him, the childish face framed by soft black hair, the large green eyes that gazed at him with a tension that grew increasingly uneasy with each passing moment. Eventually tea was brought which forced a murmured thank you from the Sumeragi, but as soon as the waitress left again the silence returned more awkward than before. Seishirou was determined not to be the one who broke it, something he made pointedly clear by taking out his cigarettes and lighter, because as petty as it was he was determined to win at least one battle tonight—
"I'm sorry," said Subaru suddenly.
"What for?" Seishirou asked neutrally.
"For not telling you earlier. About everything."
Seishirou couldn't help but smile a little; the boy looked so serious it was almost comical. Perhaps this new Subaru wasn't so new after all. "You don't have to apologise, Subaru-kun," said Seishirou calmly, tapping a cigarette out from the carton with steady hands. "Your reasons for not saying anything are perfectly understandable – though, please, don't let me stop you if you insist on feeling guilty. Why don't you pour the tea."
For a moment Subaru stared at him, disbelief tingeing his face. Then he sighed and picked up the teapot. "You don't have to do this," he said quietly as he filled Seishirou's cup.
"Do what?"
"Pretend everything is all right."
Imperceptibly, Seishirou's fingers tightened on the cigarette carton. Seen. "Why do you say that?"
"Seishirou-san, you just found out that your entire act hasn't worked," said Subaru patiently, pouring out the second cup. "Not only that, you found out that everything you thought about me was wrong. Even if you are the Sakurazukamori you can't try and tell me you don't care about this – you don't like losing control."
Tension, a sour tightness in his chest … once again Seishirou realised that he was angry, angry that Subaru had measured him so accurately, angry that anger had in one evening become so recognisable to him already … he sensed the Sakura stir at the back of his mind, its slumber disturbed by his mental state, and sharply shut it up. Not yet. "Interesting bit of insight you have there," said Seishirou coolly, lighting his cigarette and taking care to keep his expression guarded. "Would you prefer it if I tried to kill you again?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Subaru retorted. "I'm just saying that you have to have questions."
"Hm." Deliberately Seishirou sat back in his chair, took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled, willing the anger-tension to mix with the smoke and expel from his body with only partial success. "Very well, answer me this: if this time reversal story of yours is true, how come you're the only one who remembers anything?"
"I don't know. I did think at first maybe it was because I was involved with the Final Day, but then I realised you didn't remember any of it so that can't be the reason. I have no idea why else it could be."
"Did you ask any of the other Dragons?"
Subaru shook his head as he sipped his tea. "Most of the ones on my side would be children in this time and I don’t know where to find them. I know nothing about the Dragons of Earth other than you."
"What about the Kamui?"
"Kamui right now would be a seven-year-old boy. He's best friends with his twin star who is another older boy with a younger sister, and the sister destined to die at one or the other Kamuis' hand. All three of them are very close childhood friends so even if I knew where to find them I'm not going to go disturb their lives, especially if they don't remember."
"That's very considerate, but it means that I have only your word that what you say is true. Why should I believe you?"
There was a small sigh. "I know I can't prove anything, but it is all true. All I can do is ask you to trust me."
"Trust." An unpleasant smile stretched Seishirou's face. "The thirteenth head of the Sumeragi is asking the Sakurazukamori to trust him after acting out a deception for the past two months."
"You can hardly act the wronged party!" Subaru shot back. "You lied to me about your true self ever since the Bet started!"
Seishirou acknowledged this with a sardonic shrug. "Still, until I get something a little more concrete about this time reversal than 'your word', Subaru-kun, all I'm going to give you is the benefit of the doubt." He tapped off the end of his cigarette. "Does Hokuto-chan know?"
"No. And I don't plan on telling her."
"Why not?"
Green eyes met his steadily from across the table. "She's supposed to be dead," said Subaru quietly. "Stabbed through the heart by the hand of someone she called friend. I can't tell her that … and I'm hoping you won't either."
Seishirou raised an eyebrow. "You want me to keep up appearances in front of Hokuto-chan?"
"I want you to take care so that Hokuto-chan doesn't find out."
So of their little trio only Hokuto was still completely ignorant of the situation, or at least, Subaru thought she was. Privately Seishirou thought that Subaru wasn't giving his sister enough credit – that baking afternoon had been a startling display of the girl's perception – and he wouldn't be surprised to find out Hokuto knew far more than she was letting on to her brother. The whole thing seemed to have become a complicated three way he-knew-she-knew-they-knew, and it was unclear just who was holding the most valuable cards though Seishirou had a bad feeling it wasn't him. It was not a position he was used to – and he didn't like it one bit.
Dishes arrived then, a heavy clay bowl of vegetables and a plate of duck with roasted skin gleaming in the low light. A plastic blue rice-pot was set down beside the room divider. Seishirou ignored the waitress, stabbing out his cigarette and leaving the thanks to Subaru who immediately began to serve. Clouds of steam billowed up to the ceiling as Subaru opened the rice-pot, softening the image of his hands for a moment, and Seishirou found himself staring at them, the long fingers curled around the porcelain bowl and fair skin seemingly unblemished to normal eyes. Even dormant the marks called to Seishirou and he had to make a conscious effort to resist as he remembered how it had felt to hold those hands again after all these years. The boy's hands had been remarkably warm beneath his lips, soft, too, since after years of concealment they were completely untouched …
Untouched. Subaru in that girl's coma dream had lost an eye. "In this future of yours, are you half-blind?" asked Seishirou suddenly.
The reaction was immediate; Subaru froze in the act of setting down his bowl of rice and looked up to stare. "How did you know that?" he demanded. "I thought you didn't remember."
"I don't. I saw you during that little job of yours in the Ebisu hospital where you had to wake that coma girl – or didn't you ever wonder where that shikigami came from?"
"No, I realised that was you, I just never said anything." Seishirou's eyes darkened at this, and Subaru shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "So you really did See me then? Why didn't you ask me about it?"
"You weren't supposed to know that I helped you out," Seishirou retorted, perhaps just a little sharply as he reached out to get some food. "So? Why do you only have one eye in this future?"
There was a slight flush on Subaru's face. "I … lost my eye in a battle during the Final Year," he said.
"Was it my doing?"
"No, it was the Dark Kamui. He—" Subaru broke off.
"He what?"
Green eyes clouded over before looking away. "He caught me off-guard."
—a strange, impotent burning, the desire to strike out against the one who had dared touch what was clearly his—
"Seishirou-san?"
Blink – the moment was gone, flickering out of reach like a tiny gnat. It left Seishirou with a slight shiver, but that was easily concealed with a cold smile. "Off-guard, you say? Well, I hope for your Kamui's sake that his other Dragons of Heaven are more disciplined soldiers than you.” He helped himself to some food. “So, what are they like? The two Kamui, I mean."
Subaru's expression grew distant. "Kamui – the Kamui, the one who gets to choose between Heaven and Earth … someone so young shouldn't have to decide the fate of the world, let alone fight for it. He's only sixteen when 1999 happens, and an orphan, and despite his sullenness he's a very kind person. In a way that kindness makes his destiny all more the tragic because Kamui has to lose so much …"
Gradually a picture was painted, drawn in words with Subaru's characteristic compassion. Attentively Seishirou listened as Subaru described for him a boy who hid a generous, loving heart beneath an attitude of stubborn self-reliance, a boy destined to suffer and watch his closest loved ones die or worse, have to fight them, a boy that Subaru would be sworn to protect …
"We had a lot in common, perhaps too much, since like me Kamui also had to watch a special person killed by another special person, and because of that we became friends."
… there was something strange, something more than sympathy in Subaru's voice as he spoke of Kamui, something that Seishirou didn't like. "And the other Kamui?" he asked abruptly.
Cut off mid-sentence Subaru blinked at him. "The other Kamui I don't really know," he replied, sounding a little uneasy. "His real name is Fuuma and he was – is, Kamui's closest friend. From what Kamui told me Fuuma is a very caring person with a fierce sense of responsibility to his younger sister Kotori, but as the one destined to be defined against Kamui when Kamui chose to be a Dragon of Heaven Fuuma automatically took the opposing place as a Dragon of Earth. When that happened the personality of Fuuma was overtaken by the Dark Kamui. The Dark Kamui isn't so much a person so much as a force focused on destruction, and the first thing he did was kill his own sister as Kamui watched …"
The words trailed off, the emerald eyes shadowing as if seeing a bad memory. Seishirou found it irritating. "Are they strong?" he asked.
"In terms of power? Very. They have the power to represent or hunt the majesty of the gods, but they differ greatly in how they wield that power. Fuuma – I mean, the Dark Kamui, he has no hesitation in fighting Kamui and doesn't care about the death and destruction he causes. Kamui on the other hand—"
"—doesn't want to watch people die let alone kill his friend, I can see where this is going," finished Seishirou, nodding thoughtfully. "Interesting. And it's upon their shoulders that the fate of the world rests. You would think teenage boys would be the last people upon whom to pin such responsibility, but if that's what destiny has foreordained so be it. But presuming that everything you say is true, what does it mean? Is the Final Day to come again or has everything been decided?"
Subaru looked even more uneasy. "I don’t know. The past is now the present, so logically it means that 1999 is still to come, but arguably the Final Day has already happened and shouldn’t need to happen again … I can’t say."
"You really have no idea."
"No."
"Hmph. Which means, I suppose, the only thing to do is wait until we get to 1999 again. Ah well." Seishirou gestured with his chopsticks at the dishes between them. "Do eat up, the food's getting cold."
The point was made, the subject changed. Seishirou reached out for some more meat and vegetables – after tonight's events he wasn't feeling particularly hungry, but at least eating would excuse them both from talking for a little while. If Subaru noticed this he made no sign, slowly picking up his own chopsticks and starting with the vegetables, though he did give Seishirou a long, unreadable look as if weighing up and deciding against saying something. Seishirou found himself disconcerted. Used as he was all this time to a Subaru who would bend and wilt under everything he said, this deliberate passivity was something new entirely, and it was far too early for Seishirou to have any measure of it.
Could Subaru be telling the truth? Could they really have gone back in time to relive their lives? Common-sense and logic scoffed at the idea but given how much Subaru had told him in that much detail … Seishirou could not be sure. There was doubt, an uncertainty that kept saying maybe, maybe it's all true, maybe things are more than they seem and maybe you can trust him. Actually it was not unlike the quiet impulse that had made Seishirou give his true birthday in that silly compatibility test with Subaru, an association that disturbed Seishirou greatly. To this day Seishirou hadn't quite figured out why exactly he had done something as risky as revealing his birth details to the head of the Sumeragi, but it had felt rather like he had conceded something. A surrender, in fact. But what exactly had he surrendered to?
Thick silence between them. Subaru was looking at him again, he could feel it. "Can I ask you something?" the boy asked.
"What is it?"
"Last night when you came over for dinner … why did you leave so suddenly?"
Imperceptibly Seishirou’s fingers tightened. Last night’s flirting had started out as an impulsive bit of fun that had ended up as something far more serious. From the very beginning of the Bet Seishirou had set limits upon himself with regards to how far he could take his act with the admittedly attractive Sumeragi, with the policy being that he could only go as far as the boy was willing. As things turned out Subaru was not only ridiculously naïve but shy to the point of displaying something close to fear every time the subject of intimacy with Seishirou was brought up, yet despite the temptation Seishirou had adhered to his limits as a point of pride in his self-control – at least until last night. Last night Seishirou had found himself a kiss away from saying to hell with the Bet’s rules, and to have his self-control challenged so seriously by his prey, especially now with these new revelations ...
"We died."
"Yes. We killed each other."
"Yes. We killed each other."
—"Exactly the reasons I said," Seishirou replied curtly – there was something in that line of thought he didn't want to think about yet, and besides, this was not the time to be distracted. "I had work the next day, and besides, it didn’t look as if you wanted to play."
Subaru reddened a little at this but his expression was accusing. "By 'work' you mean killing Kumiko-sensei, right?"
"Actually I was referring to my day job. Believe it or not, Subaru-kun, I do have other things to do than kill people. Speaking of that teacher, what were you so worked up about when I walked into the office anyway?"
The green eyes looked a little embarrassed. "I … I was angry. Kumiko-sensei made me angry, I mean. She had just told me that Hashimoto-san had been stabbed by the bullies at her school, which was bad enough, but then Kumiko-sensei said that what had happened was all Hashimoto-san’s fault. The way she viewed it Hashimoto-san was being punished because she too weak to forgive the ones who hurt her … it hit a little close to home." Unexpectedly Subaru gave a soft laugh but there was no mirth in the sound. "And then Kumiko-sensei said that she could sense my suffering and offered to save me from myself. I told her that there was no way that she could possibly understand the problems I was facing and that she couldn’t save anybody – for all her power and good intentions she was a fraud offering a salvation she couldn’t give." Seishirou said nothing to this, nor did he give Subaru any attention as the boy looked at him. "Was it really necessary?" Subaru asked.
"Was what really necessary."
"Kumiko-sensei. Was it really necessary to kill her?"
Seishirou smiled coldly across the table. "Let’s just say it was expedient. Why, Subaru-kun, having second thoughts about me?"
"No, I'm not. I just wanted to hear a reason."
"From where I’m sitting I’d say you’ve just given some reasons yourself," Seishirou replied, resuming his meal and ignoring the green glare that was shot at him. "In any case it’s done now so I advise you to get over it."
Subaru ignored this. "What about in general then?"
"What do you mean."
"If you won't tell why you killed Kumiko-sensei, then what about people in general?"
"Curious, are you? Why don’t you ask your grandmother, I’m sure she would have lots to say."
"She does, and she has. Her view is that centuries ago your clan corrupted the onmyouji tradition that our family upholds, and you kill in order to maintain and gain more power.”
"And do you share this view?"
"I believe you're more complicated than that."
To this Seishirou could only smile. "I'm an assassin, Subaru-kun. That means I kill people at the request of other people and get paid for it, however don’t for one minute think that makes me a yakuza’s hit-man for hire. I choose what assignments to accept and from which clients – and believe me, the names on my client list run just as high as yours. Some of them are even the same." Seishirou's smile grew at the rigid look on Subaru’s face and he let his voice grow soft. "However. There are other assignments, assignments that 'need to be done' as a measure determined not by some paying third party but divined by powers less than material. Assignments that could target even those clients who have called on me in the past. I have my place in the order of things, and that place is just as necessary as yours. As for the rest … it’s because I can."
Silence, finally, from the other side of the table. Subaru’s green eyes were flat. "I see," he said at last, and then purposefully drank his tea as if to physically stop himself from commenting any further.
Seishirou chuckled. "If it's any consolation, Subaru-kun, my Bet with you certainly wasn't any 'assignment'; it was purely something for myself and if I kill you it will be for those same reasons. Do you plan on finishing your dinner or shall I ask for the bill?”
Subaru blinked, glanced down at his half-eaten plate, then shook his head and pushed it away. At any other time Seishirou would have made some quip about how Hokuto expected him to make sure Subaru ate properly, but after everything that had happened tonight such jokes felt asinine. He needed space, he realised as he waved the waitress over to give her his credit card, space to think about and analyse everything he had found out tonight and decide how to proceed, and more importantly, space away from the damned Sumeragi who was the cause of everything.
Except he couldn't stay away forever, or even for too long. There was still about two months left in the Bet, and Seishirou had given his word that it would continue. Being a law unto himself his word was far more binding than any rule could be, and Seishirou had too much pride to call off a game just because he didn’t like the way things were going. Until the Bet was over, he would have to stay with Subaru.
Seishirou couldn’t help but feel somewhat trapped.
A flash of red, and the waitress reappeared with the receipt. "If you just sign here, please," she said, handing Seishirou a pen. "Did you enjoy your meal?"
It was automatic now, to switch to that other persona, the one he wore in front of other people. The other persona that was now useless on Subaru. "Oh yes, it was just what we needed. Don't mind Subaru-kun's plate there; he never eats much."
"'He' – you mean, he's a boy?" The waitress stared at Subaru, who immediately turned pink under the attention, and her expression grew mortified. "I'm sorry, I thought all this time your companion was a girl and you were on a date!"
"Subaru-kun gets mistaken for a girl a lot, don't you, my dear." Subaru muttered something under his breath, shifting uncomfortably as the waitress bowed and apologised profusely. Seishirou's grin widened. "But I wouldn’t worry, onee-san, you were correct about one thing. We are on a date."
To this the waitress reacted much as Seishirou expected – wide eyes, at loss for words and so forth – but that was unimportant. Across the table Subaru’s pink face was averted towards the floor, his attitude one of obvious embarrassment as the waitress looked between the two of them in shock. Seishirou felt his smile twist a little – now there was the Subaru he was familiar with, and given everything that had happened tonight it was a rather pleasurable sight …
"I said I love you. I'm continuing the Bet because I want you by my side."
Perhaps there was some advantage in this new order of things.
There was a sound of scraping chair legs as Subaru hastily stood and grabbed his things to go. Since the waitress was apparently still trying to wrap her head around the idea of a man and a boy on a date Seishirou retrieved his card and left the pen with signed receipt on the table for her to belatedly scramble after as he left. Subaru was pointedly not looking at him, but Seishirou put a hand in the small of his back anyway to effortlessly guide his ‘date’ through the tables and other diners to the exit and then hold open the door. Assassin he may be, one thing Subaru could never fault him for was a lack of courtesy and consideration – and besides, playing up for an audience was always amusing.
Cold air and an audible change in noise level as they stepped over the restaurant’s threshold. Seishirou let the door swing closed. "Well, this has been a fun night," he said pulling on his coat. "Is there going to be a third act or do we start again tomorrow?"
Seishirou had spoken brightly but he kept a careful eye on the Sumeragi, again taking care to position himself so that it was impossible for the boy to make any surprising moves. Not that it seemed to be needed – there was still a fair bit of pedestrian traffic around and Subaru had his now bare hands buried in his coat pockets for warmth – but still. "I … think I’m going to go home," said Subaru slowly. "Hokuto-chan might be back already, and I don’t want her to worry. Tomorrow I’d like to see Hashimoto-san."
"What for?"
"The attack put her in hospital. She doesn't have friends who would visit her, so I want to check on how she's going."
"Suit yourself. Would you like me to drive you?"
Subaru blinked at him as if startled by the offer. "Are you sure?"
"Why wouldn’t I be? My schedule at the clinic tomorrow is fairly light."
For a moment Subaru stared at him, but then a shy smile appeared on his face. "It would be nice if you drove, yes."
"Then I shall pick you and Hokuto-chan up at, say, eleven in the morning? We can go out to lunch later – unless, of course, you know of something important happening tomorrow we should prepare for, a major earthquake for example?" Subaru shook his head. "Then I shall see you tomorrow."
He gave a slight bow, courteous, as always, to the end. It was also a decidedly cooler and more distant farewell than what he usually gave to Subaru when acting out his veterinarian’s façade, a subtle point that didn’t miss Subaru, who looked a little uncertain as he returned the bow. Not that the Sumeragi said anything, giving Seishirou a feeling of being indulged in, only glancing over his shoulder once as he began to walk – hurriedly – away.
It seemed that both of them were rather glad to get away from each other.
An endless staccato of heels and shoes passing left and right. Restlessly Seishirou watched Subaru disappear into the stream of people; part of him still wanted to follow and hunt the boy down, to kill him as soon as possible not only for the humiliation of tonight but to eliminate what was now a very real threat, but that was also the part of him that felt anger and Seishirou refused to let it be his guide. Besides, he had already given his word that the Bet would continue and Seishirou was far from ready to admit defeat—
Something was watching him.
Seishirou didn’t react. Deliberately he reached into his pocket for his cigarettes, tapped one out and lit it, looking for all the world like any other man enjoying a smoke. As he did so he leaned back against one of the restaurant’s stone lions, casually scanning the street before him as his mind delicately looked for … there. A single spark of magic, four stories up across the street in the form of a bird. No, not a bird, a shikigami. One with a distinctly Sumeragi signature.
Grey smoke clouded his face as Seishirou let his probe quietly diffuse, silently swearing under his breath. As if his night wasn’t bad enough already … with narrowed eyes he looked up; now that he knew where the shikigami was he could see it, a speck of pure white against a darkened office window on the far side of the road. The problem was that if he could see the shikigami the shikigami could certainly see him, but the question was how long had it been watching and what had it seen. Seishirou was certain it hadn't been around when he and Subaru had entered the restaurant, and by default he always kept his aura concealed so he was confident it was highly unlikely that the shikigami – most probably Lady Sumeragi’s since it certainly wasn’t Subaru’s – could pick him out as someone out of the ordinary. His face however was a different matter—
The white speck suddenly spread wings. Seishirou immediately tensed, but he need not have worried. Instead of coming towards him the shikigami’s flight path was taking it down the street, following the direction in which Subaru had gone. Whether or not Lady Sumeragi had dismissed Seishirou as a person of interest it was impossible to tell, but what was interesting was how much of a distance her shikigami was keeping from Subaru. If he had to guess Seishirou would surmise that Lady Sumeragi had been alerted when the protective spell on Subaru’s gloves had been destroyed and was now checking up on him, but apparently she didn’t want Subaru to know she was checking on him. It made Seishirou smile; parents – or in this case, grandparent – were all the same when it came to their children. Thankfully for Seishirou he had killed his …
"Now you are the Sakurazukamori. And the next Sakurazukamori will be the one who kills you."
"Oh? I wonder who will kill me, then."
"It will be the person you love most."
"Oh? I wonder who will kill me, then."
"It will be the person you love most."
If Subaru had been telling the truth about the Final Day, did that mean—?
"Excuse me, but may I borrow a light?"
Irritated, Seishirou glanced up. Before him stood a young man, a teenager, really, older than Subaru but judging from his clothes obviously nowhere near as well brought up. He was holding an unlit cigarette; his other hand hung loose by his side. Harmless, but if there was one thing that Seishirou had learnt tonight was that looks were deceiving … with a shrug Seishirou held out his lighter, encouraging the stranger to come closer. He wasn't particularly surprised when the stranger sidled up to him to catch the flame, and he wasn't particularly surprised that when the stranger pulled away the pocket where he kept his wallet was noticeably lighter, however Seishirou refrained from reacting. Only after the stranger had thanked him and sauntered away did Seishirou crush his own finished cigarette and begin to quietly follow. Indulgent though this might be, there was something he needed to do.
Hours later, in the dead of night in Ueno Park with blood soaking through his sleeve, Seishirou patiently waited as the Sakura's branches slid languorously through the ragged hole in the pickpocket's chest, making the corpse twitch for a moment like some grotesque puppet before bursting through the skin in an explosion of tiny flowers. It cut off the soul's screaming like a beheading, and only then did Seishirou demand the Sakura's attention, opening his mind and letting it see and experience everything that had happened with Subaru, his revelations and claims. He presented it to the Sakura not so much as a story but as a feast, for while the Sakura had a consciousness it was one completely inhuman, and to it time and the order of things was less important than what. Then Seishirou asked his question.
Do you remember anything?
Rustle of branches like old bones. … No.
t.b.c.
Also, to everyone who has commented to be added to this journal over the past few weeks, I think I've added everyone but if I've missed you please comment here and I'll flail around and remedy my error immediately :O