http://clampfix.fanworks.net/ss-fix/crimson01.txt </head><body><pre>Title: Crimson Stars Author: Nemesis Rating: PG-13 Series: Tokyo Babylon Pairings: Subaru X Seishirou Warnings: I took a lot of liberty with the characters....remember AU- ish fic. I wouldn't read this if you haven't read the prologue which really explains a lot. Chapter 1: Kindred Spirit "Hey, Sakurazuka-kun!" a voice yelled. "What are you doing up there?" "Hrm?" Craning his neck, the boy, precariously placed on the tree branch, glared at the source of his disturbance. Frowning, he ground the cigarette into the coarse bark and sat up. "What do you want?" "Are you smoking?!" The girl shrieked. She looked around quickly making sure that no teachers were around to have heard her yell. Lowering her voice, she hissed at him. "What are you going to do if you get caught?" Shrugging, he dropped the cigarette to the ground and vaulted out of the tree. He landed gracefully next to her, his legs easily absorbing the shock of the fall. Dusting off his pants he narrowed his eyes, and glowered at her. Vaguely, he remembered her name to be Fuuji Megumi, a tenth grader. She shrunk back from his gaze at first, but then seemed to find new resolve. Placing a hand on her hip, her chin jutted up as she challenged his glare with one of her own. "You're going to get kicked out of school if you don't start paying more attention to the rules." "So?" He fished into his pocket for another cigarette. "What does it matter?" "What do you mean, what does it matter?!" She shouted. "Don't you care about your future at all?" "Nope." He lit the cigarette and took a long drag, ignoring her antics. "And I don't think it's any of your business. Besides school is over. Go home." She huffed indignantly, though he noted her brown eyes fell, as though hurt. Then, fire returned once more, and she snatched the cigarette out of his mouth and dropped it on the ground. Giving him an even smile, she ground the butt under her shoe. He stared at her in shock. "What do you think you're doing?" He snarled. That had been his last one. Who the hell did this girl think she was? "Smoking is prohibited on school grounds. Besides, you're underage." "Fuuji-sempai," he said slowly. Her eyes brightened when he said her name. "What I do, is my business. Not the teachers and especially not yours. I don't know what the hell you think you're doing, but I suggest you leave before you make me angry." Her lip trembled and she clenched her fists. "You know what, Sakurazuka-kun? You're a bastard!" She yelled, stalking away. He stared after her for a moment, wondering if all girls were insane. Sighing, he glumly looked at the crushed remains of his last cigarette. Stupid girl. "Subaru-kun, are you going to stand there all day or shall we go?" A voice called. Forgetting about the wasted cigarette, he turned around hastily shoving a grin onto his face. "Seishirou-san! You're finally here." *** "Neh, Subaru-kun, who was that girl earlier?" Seishirou asked, smiling as he watched Subaru choke on the bite of okonomiyaki he had just taken. He pushed a glass of water towards the boy, waiting patiently while Subaru cleared his throat. "You were there?" Subaru asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. Seishirou merely smiled. Poor Subaru was so self-conscious of himself lately. Seishirou assumed that it was merely adolescence creeping up on the boy, but still, it was interesting to watch. "She was just some annoying upperclassmen girl. I don't know." "I see." "Really! I don't know who she was…I think her name's Fuuji Megumi or something." Subaru scowled. "She ruined my last cigarette." "Subaru-kun," Seishirou said, his voice light, yet dangerous. "What did I tell you about smoking? It's not good for you." "You're one to talk, /elder/ brother." Subaru said, snorting. "I seem to recall you smoke far more than I do. What example do you think you're setting?" Seishirou sighed and gave up, sipping slowly at his tea. The boy had changed so much over the last three years. His sullenness and depression had been replaced by insolence and cheek. It was hard to believe sometimes, that this was the same boy. The dull green eyes had become glittering emeralds, while a usually scornful expression adorned his youthful face. "You know, one day we're going to work on that attitude of yours." Seishirou grinned wickedly. "So, is she your girlfriend?" Subaru spat out a mouthful of water. "WHAT?!" Seishirou sipped calmly at his tea, ignoring the younger boy. He hoped Subaru wouldn't see the smile he was hiding beneath the rim of his teacup. "Of course she's not my girlfriend! Hell, she's just this annoying bitch who decided to bother me!" "I don't think she would appreciate being called a bitch, Subaru- kun." Seishirou said reproachfully. He gave his companion a wide smile. "In fact, I think she likes you." Subaru stared, his mouth hanging slightly open. Seishirou wondered if teasing such a naļve child should go against his morale. But still, the sight of Subaru's shocked face made him want to giggle like a kid. "What?" "Come on now, Subaru-kun. Didn't you see the way she was making calf- eyes at you? She was obviously smitten by your prettiness." "What are you talking about?! She was chewing me out and sticking her nose where it didn't belong! She wasn't making calf-eyes or anything!" Subaru protested, his face turning red. Seishirou gave him a pointed look. "Why don't you listen to your older brother for once?" He said calmly. The word `brother' was rough on his tongue, but he forced it anyway. "That girl seems quite taken by you. Perhaps you should ask her on a date?" "A DATE?!" Subaru shrieked, jumping out of his chair. The other patrons of the small okonomiyaki shop looked up annoyed by his outburst. Ignoring them, Subaru glared at the Sakurazukamori with all the loathing he could muster. "Why the hell would I want to go on a date?" "Well, when boys and girls like each other, they usually engage in an activity called dating." "/Like/ each other?! I don't like her! She ruined my last cigarette!" Seishirou sighed, and dramatically rolled his eyes. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a wad of money and peeled some off. Pushing it towards the boy, he stood up, placing his tea cup neatly on the table. "Whatever you say, Subaru-kun. Now, when you're finished here, do us all a favor and buy yourself some more cigarettes? You seem to get awfully irritable when you haven't smoked in," Seishirou checked his watch. "Thirty minutes. Honestly, how do you get through school?" "I don't." "Anyway, I have to go to the clinic. I'll be home late, so don't wait up." Subaru nodded and sat back in his seat. He grinned at Seishirou goofily. "Good luck." Seishirou merely nodded and gathered up his coat. As he left the small shop, he wondered briefly if Subaru really did like that girl. That would be a shame. *** Subaru waited until Seishirou had walked around the corner of the street before letting the grin fade. He glowered at the remains of okonomiyaki left on his plate. Seishirou was always like that. He always teased and joked with him as though he were a child. Subaru snorted at the thought. He was fourteen-years old already, hardly a child. A lump formed in Subaru's throat. Fourteen. It had already been three years since he had started living with Seishirou. Three years since he had abandoned everything. /"Why are you so eager to die? Perhaps you'd like to be free? I can help you be free."/ Subaru frowned at the memories, not sure what to think of them. He tended not to dwell on the past. He had tried so hard to forget everything. And he had almost succeeded. Almost. /"Subaru, what do you see when you look at the sky?"/ Subaru shook his head hard, banishing the thoughts. Standing up, he threw some yen onto the table and shrugged into his jacket. He needed cigarettes. Stupid girl... He hated it when people stuck their noses in where they didn't belong. Even Seishirou did it from time to time, though he would never hate Seishirou. Subaru let his lips curl into a smile. What was it that Seishirou had said? A date? He wondered if Seishirou had been serious. Seishirou, who always spoke with a smile on his face, even when blood was staining his hands. Fuuji Megumi…that had been her name. Perhaps he would ask her out on a date.</pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>