http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/bet00.txt </head><body><pre>*delurks* Hi, minna ^^v Don't know if anyone remember me, but here's my recent fic. Posted it at Clampesque once. So, if you've been there and read this, notice that I made no change. To begin with.. Kenchan + X + Mathematics = bad combination. So, anyway.. I don't think I have any idea how should I continue this. Spoiler to all Tokyo Babylon and X (including the instalment for December 2001 ASUKA). Thanks to Astri and Silver Wind for the translation of Subaru - Dark Kamui dialogue. Oh! Did I mention that I was studying Mathematics when I wrote this? The Bet 'til the End of the World Prologue By: Kenchan "So. what are you going to do?" he asked me, still holding the flask in front of me. "Will you take it. or will you throw it away?" After a moment of silence, I reached out to take it. When my hand almost touched it, the Dark Kamui spoke again, this time with a hint of caution in his voice, "Are you sure? By doing so means that you would inherit the Sakurazukamori's power too." I stopped for a while, still hesitant, not knowing exactly what to do. But before I realized it, I took the flask and embraced it. "So be it..." said him as he left. Silently, I watched him left as I held the flask he left me tightly. When I knew that I was left all alone, slowly I lifted is as a thought passed my mind. Inside, was the eye of that person... the person who destroyed my life... the person who killed my sister... and... the person who I love. My mind began to turn, replaying the past; reminiscing all the moments I had once with him. The happiness... the grief... the hatred... and... love. Everything came at once inside my mind, as a question echoed in my mind. 'Do you really love Seishirou-san...?' I tore my gaze from the flask, staring at the falling Sakura petals around me, not really knowing what to answer. * * * Lemme skip this, since I have no idea how Subaru would take Seishirou's eye. So, well.. the story continues, assuming that Subaru accepted it. * * * Ueno Park looked pretty desolated that evening, as I walked towards a point where a soft but urgent voice calling me desperately. As I reached it, I could smell the enchanting scent of the Sakura, bringing a hint of nostalgic memory to my mind. But I ignored it as I continued my pace, until I saw it. The Sakura tree that continued to bloom over the time stood majestically, sending its pink petals to the air. The same Sakura tree, where my bet with Seishirou-san was sealed... The same place, where my sister was killed... But really... do I care that much? Hmph... Funny, I thought, when I noticed that the colour of the petals was fader than usual, almost white rather than pink. But that did not really matter, did it? As if it read my mind, a sudden breeze sprung, carrying the petals, reaching out to me, touching me like a lover, caressing my features, calling me desperately. 'So, you finally come, Sakurazukamori,' a voice echoed in my ears. I did not have to turn to find its owner, nor that I surprised to hear it. "Yes, I come.." I replied him cynically as I leaned myself on its trunk. "Satisfied?" 'How arrogant...' it replied. 'But you surely remind me with your predecessor... looks like this long wait worth something after all...' "Is that so...?" I said as I closed my eyes, listening the soft hum of the tree, noticing an urgent request for another sacrifice. "No.. not yet, my dear tree..." It chuckled. I opened my eyes in amusement. "What's so funny..." 'To hear those words from you...' it said, still with a hint of amusement in its voice, 'That was one thing that I'd never expect from you.' I laughed dryly. "Really?" I closed my eyes again, standing there in silence, not really surprised if anyone would notice me as a part of the tree, not that I care. 'Speaking of a new prey...' it said before I heard the echoes came to reality. "Subaru!" I lifted my eyelids slowly to see a boy ran towards me. That boy, who held the future of this Earth, still with his sad but beautiful amethyst eye. The eyes that irritated me. He stopped about a few steps from where I was standing. I glanced to see his eyes, reading his feelings. Hesitation, hope, and also sadness and perhaps... love. He never changed, just like an opened book, so easy to read. But still... he was so beautiful. Just like a doll... to break. Then a thought crossed my mind as I chuckled lightly. Suddenly, the maboroshi swept the scene around us. He gasped in surprise, but stayed there, watching the gloominess of the maboroshi in awe. "Subaru..." he spoke at last as I moved towards. Perhaps he was afraid, or so I assumed as I watched his eyes. Though it amazed me that he still stood there, waiting for me to react. "It's been a while, ne?" I said, turning my back towards him to watch the sakura tree where I was standing quite a while ago. "How are you going, Kamui?" He kept quiet. Perhaps not sure what to say, or even how to react. I turned again to face him. This time our eyes met and he gasped. "Subaru.. you..." "Surprised?" I chuckled lightly as I closed the distance between us. Well... almost. Though I had to admit that it was surprising to see him not realizing this ever since he saw me that day. "I'm sorry if I disappoint you, but you should realize, that I am no longer a Seal from the time I killed Seishirou- san..." "...Sakurazukamori..." he muttered weakly as he looked down to his feet, hiding his face with his hair from my mismatched eyes. "Even until death.. he won't let you go..." "Perhaps..." I replied as I lifted his chin, trying to make the boy to look at me eyes to eyes. "But Kamui... this is my wish..." "Subaru..." "And what about you, Kamui?" I asked. He looked at me questioningly, not sure with my question. I only grinned as I took his hands. "What about your wish, Kamui?" I asked again, dropping my voice lower as he blushed slightly. "I..." he gasped as his gaze met mine. "I... My wish would never change...that I will bring Fuuma back, no matter what cost it would take." "Is that so...?" I said. "Then... let's make a bet..." "A bet? Subaru..." "If one day," I said, ignoring his words, "before the promised day, of course, your wish somehow did not come true..." The wind blew, leaving the promise unheard to the young Seal. "So today." I said, lowering my head to kiss his delicate hands lovingly, "I let you go." Vaguely, I could hear the Sakura chuckled in amusement as the boy fell limp to my embrace. Inverted pentagrams were burning on the back of his hands. * * * If you wonder...do I know what am I writing? Honestly, no. Not even a hint. So, C/C? Suggestion for the next chapters? --- Kenchan http://kenchan.synthetic-rain.org/ "When I was with many different people I was always alone" -- Ernest Hemingway</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>