http://clampfix.fanworks.net/ss-fix/crimson04.txt </head><body><pre>Oops, I forgot to post a subject for the last message. ^^; Chapter 4: Forgotten 2 Years Later – Tokyo, Japan It was almost eight o'clock when Seishirou finally locked up the clinic. He was starting to regret having started his own Veterinary Clinic. Running a business, being a doctor and feeding the Sakura were by no means, an easy task. But it kept his mind occupied. And that was the most important thing. "Sakurazuka-san, I'm leaving now." Hikaru called. He nodded and reminded her to lock the door behind her. Having a secretary had taken some of the work off of his shoulders. It was rather nice. Wistfully, he wished if it were possible to hire a secretary who could feed the Sakura. He pulled a letter out of his pocket and stared at it. It was neatly printed on high quality stock paper complete with a watermark. It listed two names and a brief description of what they had done to merit death. Seishirou tapped his finger on the table and wondered if he would accept this job. Two years ago he wouldn't have questioned. Two years ago he did whatever assignments came in the mail. Two years ago he had been rather content with his life. And two years ago, he wouldn't have been sitting at the table in his clinic, having angst-filled thoughts about his past. Lately though, he had been ignoring most of the letters. There had been a phone call after the first one. He had hung up. Then a few men in sharp business suits and identical haircuts had stopped him in the street after he had ignored the second letter. The Sakura had complained later because the blood had been rather bitter. Since then no one had complained. /"I'm hungry." / /"Oh, be quiet for a moment. You'll be fed soon."/ Seishirou snapped. /"You live because of me. Should you not show me more respect? Ever since the boy left, you've been…how do they say, it…an asshole?" / /"That is none of your business." / /"Oh, really? What was it you told him? `As long as you live under my guard, affairs are mine as well?'" / /"It's a little bit difference. See, you live under my care. I don't live under yours." / /"The key word was guard, Seishirou-kun, not care. And you're alive because I've protected your family all these years. And I protect you. I grant you my power. You are in debt to me." / /"Perhaps I am. But there's another difference. I am a person. You are a tree. What are you in the mood for tonight, anyway?" / There was silence for a moment as the Tree debated on whether to pursue the matter any further. Instead, she decided to go along with the change of topic. /"Why don't we get the usual?" / A smiled curved Seishirou's lips. /"Indeed." / *** It was a nice day, Subaru decided as he donned his sunglasses. The sun was high in the sky, which was, for once, void of clouds. For March in Kyoto, it was rather warm as well. Checking his watch, he saw that it was already three o'clock. She was late. Then again, she usually was. He leaned against a tree, and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. "SUBARU!" He winced guiltily and tried to slip the cigarette back into his pocket. Instead it was snatched from his fingers and crushed under a white shoe. "What have I told you about smoking?" "I do what I want to do." He snapped. He didn't, however, get another cigarette. "You should know that by now. Besides, Rei, you're late." Hinata Rei merely flashed him a brilliant smile, her annoyance at the cigarette forgotten. She was always like that, switching temperaments as easily as a four year old. "Aren't I always?" She slipped an arm around his and started dragging him towards a café. "Come on, I'm hungry." "Punctuality is a common courtesy." He said, annoyed. He let her drag him though. Subaru was used to being treated this way by now. Just as Rei was used to getting her way. She gave him another smile. "You're my boyfriend. I don't have to be courteous to you." "It's not like I asked you out." "It's not like you said no." "Did I ever say yes?" "We're on a date now, aren't we?" Subaru gave an exasperated sigh. One of these days he was going to win their arguments. That would probably be the day he broke up with her. Rei was different from other girls her age. She saw what she wanted and she went out and got it. She didn't shy around and try subtle ways. In fact, he wasn't even sure Rei was capable of being subtle. /"I want you to be my boyfriend." / /"Huh?"/ /"You're going to be my boyfriend from now on. I like you. You're not like other guys." / /"You don't know anything about me."/ /"And that's why I'm going to be your girlfriend."/ She had made him laugh. So he hadn't said no to her. He hadn't said yes, but she took his silence as consent. And since then, she had been determined to find out more about him. She had failed. Not even her persistence could make him speak about his past. "Suuubaaaruuuu…." She whined. "Earth to Subaru! You look like you're a thousand miles away." "Maybe I was." He said. Then he surprised her by giving her a kiss. It was a brief kiss, their lips only brushing together, but it was enough to make her stumble backwards. She gave him an odd look. "What was that for?" "It was for being you." Subaru said. She grinned, and latched onto his arm tighter. "I think you're breaking, Sumeragi." "Maybe I am." He said, giving her a rare smile. "Besides, I should be grateful to you." "Oh? Why's that?" /You make me forget about him./ Subaru shook his head, clearing the thought. "It's a secret." He said. He gave her another smile, hoping she wouldn't catch the guilt in his eyes. /I'm using you to forget about him./ Subaru squashed the guilt inside of him. It might be true. But she was happy, so was it really that bad? *** It was late, Akira decided, glancing up at the moon glowing brightly in the night sky. His mother was going to be angry with him. He winced, already hearing her nagging. He should have left Tachi's house earlier. He cursed the entire school system of Japan for coming up with the idea of Entrance Exams to high schools. Because of them, he had spent the past few months cramming with Tachi over the exam books their prep school had given them. And why anyone would ever need to know when two trains traveling at opposite directions would pass each other was beyond him. "Stupid entrance exam. Stupid high school…stupid oomph…" He stumbled backwards. Looking up he saw a man standing there, dressed neatly in business attire. "Ah, I'm sorry." "It's quite alright." The man said. His voice was low and sensuous. Strangely, Akira was reminded of a hunting cat. "Isn't it a bit late for you to be out?" "I'm heading home right now." Akira explained. He picked up his bag and started to leave. The man caught his arm, swinging him around. "Hey! What are you doing?" "You have such pretty eyes. Like emeralds." The man said, his hand caressing Akira's cheek. Akira slapped his hand away and tried to yank his arm free. "Let me go! I'll scream!" "No one's going to hear you here." The man said. "What?" Akira looked around, his mouth opening in surprise. Snow covered trees and grass had replaced the tall buildings and concrete. He stumbled backwards, his shoes crunching in the snow. "Where am I? Who the hell are you?! Let me go!" "I'm afraid that's not possible. It's hungry." "It? Look I don't care…just…just let me go home." Tears were welling up in his eyes. He was scared. More scared than he had ever been in his life. "You can't go home." Suddenly, Akira was filled with a serene calm. This was obviously a dream. He laughed slightly hysterically. "This is a dream, right? So I'm going to wake up now. I'm going to wake up and be in my bed." "This isn't a dream. It's my maboroshi." "M-Maboroshi?" Akira had sunk to his knees now, tears flowing down his cheeks. A hand patted his hair. "You're so cute when you cry, Subaru-kun." The man's golden eyes flared with an odd light. He frowned suddenly. "Ah…it's hungry now. I'm afraid I can't really help it. Forgive me Subaru-kun." Strangely, as darkness overtook him, Akira thought he saw tears on the older man's face. Author's Notes: Everything will be explained....eventually.</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>