http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/betrayal3-au.txt </head><body><pre>All characters are property of CLAMP. Standard disclaimers apply. --- Betrayal (Part 3 - Alternative) An 'X' fanfic Presented by Alison Koh The atmosphere inside the Imonoyama Mansion was naturally tensed when the other Seals realised that Seishirou was present together with Subaru as the two onmyoujis entered the main hall. Aware that their gazes were focused on him, Subaru avoided making any eye contact with his ex-comrades. Meanwhile, Seishirou observed every single Seal with a knowing smirk on his face, sensing their seething discomfort with his every little gesture, such as the way he helped Subaru remove his coat, which were designed to emphasise his level of familiarity with the Sumeragi. The assassin was about to follow Subaru ascend the stairs leading to Kamui's room when Karen stepped in front of him. "I've fulfilled my part of the bargain to allow you to accompany Subaru-san here, but I would like them to have some privacy while they talk," she said. With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, she casually asked, "Don't tell me that the all-powerful Sakurazukamori is afraid of a challenge from an injured 15-year-old schoolboy?" Blushing a little from the remark, Subaru told his companion, "If you don't mind, I really prefer to talk to Kamui alone." Seishirou simply shrugged and said, "I guess there is no harm." He then returned to the main hall and made himself comfortable on one of the huge couches while Subaru continued his walk up the stairs. * He knocked on the door, but did not expect an answer and there were none. Relying on his training, he forced himself to relax, and then he opened the door. Kamui was lying huddled under the huge blankets hence Subaru could not see if the boy was awake or otherwise. He closed the door gently and approached the bed. In the calmest voice he could muster, he called out softly, "Kamui?" There was a shifting motion beneath the covers and a hand peeked out from top edge of the blanket to pull it down hesitantly, revealing a pair of shimmering violet eyes on a tear-stained face. "Subaru...is that really you?" Kamui asked, "Or am I dreaming again?" The Sumeragi sat down beside the boy to pull down the covers further. He smiled and replied, "You're not dreaming. I am here to see you." Immediately, Kamui forced himself to sit up, ignoring the sharp pain wracking his injured body. Subaru instinctively got up to help ease Kamui into a comfortable position. The boy grabbed hold of the Sumeragi's hand and asked, "Are you back?" Hope burned tenuously in Kamui's eyes. Subaru had no heart to crush it but he could not lie. He shook his head and Kamui's face sank instantly. For many moments, neither spoke. The silence of the vast room only served to amplify the silent grief that haunted both their hearts. Kamui was losing the only person whom he felt had understood his pain, because Subaru had once undergone a similar tragedy. Subaru was leaving the only person who had given him an unconditional friendship that could only be surpassed by that of his late twin sister's affection. Both sensed that they were yielding a part of their own soul, but Subaru had chosen his path and Kamui had no right to stop him. After some time, Kamui relinquished his grasp on Subaru's hand. In a halting voice, he asked the Sumeragi, "Have you fulfilled your wish?" "Yes," Subaru replied. "Seishirou-san treats me well. You do not have to worry." "In that case, I am happy for you," Kamui replied. The boy paused for a moment and then said, "Thank you." Subaru looked at his young friend with a questioning gaze. Kamui smiled and explained, "You have given me hope that my own wish to bring back Fuuma can be fulfilled. That alone shall give me the strength to fight on, if nothing else will." Then he asked, "He is here, isn't he?" Subaru nodded. "Could you help me please? I wish to see him." Subaru wondered if it was wise to let Kamui meet Seishirou, but the boy gave him a reassuring smile that it was going to be all right. The Sumeragi left the room and returned minutes later with Seishirou, a bemused expression on the assasin's face. Following closely behind, were the other Seals. "How is the 'Kamui' feeling today?" Seishirou enquired. Kamui ignored the question and instead told the assassin, "Thank you for allowing Subaru to...meet me today. I trust you to take good care of him. But if you betray Subaru one more time, I shall personally come after you." Subaru was a little taken aback by the boy's strongly worded warning, but he was also touched by the young Seal's genuine concern for his welfare. Seishirou narrowed his eye indignantly for a brief moment and changed his expression into a wide grin as he replied, "Subaru-kun is mine. I shall take very good care of him." Somehow, those words failed to comfort Kamui's unease but the young Seal did not comment on it. Reluctantly, though, Kamui indicated that he wished to rest, a signal that Subaru could now leave. Subaru took the hint and excused himself, with the Sakurazukamori hovering closely by his side, as if to issue a challenge to the Seals to try their best to take Subaru away from him. Karen and Seiichirou took the responsibility of seeing the two onmyoujis out of Clamp Campus, while Sorata and the two girls stayed behind with Kamui. Kamui silently watched the door close behind Subaru with an infinite sense of loss. Then, with a barely audible "Thank you", he dismissed the three Seals who were still in his room, and lay down on his bed. He turned his face away from view, in case Sorata walked in again. Tears began to pool under his violet eyes again. * Despite the late hour, the city of Tokyo continued to bustle below. The cold night wind whipped strongly about the two Dragons of Earth but they paid it no heed, standing like two stone statues on the roof of the building. The denizens of the city remained oblivious to their presence however. Few people ever looked up beyond their own myopic existence. "You paid Kamui a little visit today," Fuuma remarked casually, "How was he doing?" Seishirou slowly exhaled a stream of smoke, savouring its warm release and then replied, "Barely alive, thanks to you." He then dropped the cigarette butt onto the ground and stubbed it out with the soles of his shoe. With a wry smile on his face, he asked, "Is this all you asked me out here for? I'm a very busy man, I cannot bear to let my new bride wait alone at home for too long." "My apologies. Allow me to extend my congratulations to you. By the way, I'm surprised that he didn't come along with you. I would have liked to use this opportunity to apologise to him about his eye." The Sakurazukamori chuckled, "Don't worry about the eye. It makes us look quite the perfect pair. In any case, unlike me, Subaru-kun has absolute faith that I will never allow myself to be locked up by my fellow Angels." "You seem pretty sure of yourself." Seishirou ignored the remark and instead commented, "You had something to do with the little incident last night." Fuuma laughed and told him, "I requested a little favour from Kakyou. I apologise for interrupting your honeymoon in such a fashion, but I thought it would be interesting to find out where his loyalties really lie." Narrowing his eye, Seishirou said, "I do not like to be watched." "You don't have to be so touchy," Fuuma chuckled, "We withdrew and did not intrude into your privacy any further when we realised that the Sumeragi had made up his mind. It would have been interesting though. I'm rather surprised that he had not woken up regretting the whole thing and contemplating suicide." Seishirou did not reply but it was obvious from his expression that the possibility had crossed his mind before. "You're not getting soft in your old age, are you?" Fuuma mused, "Are you telling me that you are actually feeling something special for him?" "Not likely", replied the assassin, "He's just a temporary distraction until I get bored again." The younger man stepped up before him and leaned a little closer. "Why don't you let me distract you?" he offered with more than a hint of seduction in his voice. "I'm flattered but I like to be faithful, even in my games," Seishirou laughed, "Perhaps you ought to pay the other Kamui a visit. I think he's pretty lonely at the moment." "I only wish to kill him." "Is that so? I could have been fooled. "Unlike you, I do have more important things to do, like take down Kekkais," Fuuma responded, "But sometimes, I do wonder how the Sumeragi ever managed to live so long, given his self-destructive tendencies. You are certainly more than a match for him." Without blinking, Seishirou's replied, "I have been curious about how the Kamui of the Dragons of Heaven managed to survive all this while too. You never seem to be able to finish the job. Very sloppy." A look of displeasure washed over Fuuma. Announcing in a stern voice, "Tomorrow afternoon, I'll be taking down the kekkai west of here. I expect some of the Seven Seals to turn up. Bring your precious Sumeragi along and we'll see who has the last laugh." With those words he disappeared into a swirl of smoke. Meanwhile Seishirou shrugged and returned home to his Subaru. * With an arm draped over Subaru, Seishirou shifted his other hand to tenderly caress his lover's face. /Like a delicate Sakura flower/, Seishirou found himself thinking. Subaru was undeniably beautiful, his life as fragile as the blossoming Sakura, and like the translucent petals of the flower, the Sumeragi's soul was clear for him to see. Despite the hate and the desire for vengeance that had sprung up since the betrayal eight years ago, Subaru had remained pure in many ways. Seishirou had once mistaken Subaru's love for him as an obsession of a bitter young man, but now he knew better. Subaru was simply a man torn between his love for his enemy and his duty to avenge his sister's death. In the end, he chose love, even when that decision had hurt the other person he cared about, the young Seal named Kamui. Seishirou had seen the way Kamui looked at Subaru. Even if the two Seals were oblivious about it, Seishirou understood what it clearly meant, that Kamui's feelings for Subaru definitely extended beyond the platonic. The assassin was a little disturbed by that, though it had nothing to do with Subaru. He had absolutely faith in his lover's devotion. There was something else involving Kamui but not about Kamui himself that made him restless. However, for the time being, he did not wish to analyse further about it. Gazing at Subaru, he spoke gently, "You seem very distant tonight." "I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something." "Oh? Care to share them with me?" Subaru looked at him, apprehension brimming in the emerald pool of his eye, and replied, "Perhaps I've been so used to living with tragedy, I can't seem to shake off this dreadful feeling that something bad is about to intrude on us again." "You're worrying needlessly," Seishirou said, "I'll see what I can do to ease your anxiety." Saying this, he tightened his arm around Subaru and pulled the younger man closer. Subaru had thought himself drained and spent from their love making moments ago, but found that he could not resist uttering a sigh as Seishirou began activating all his pleasure senses anew. All his dark thoughts instantly disappeared. * /He had not had this dream for a long time. Hokuto standing under the Sakura Tree in her twin's shikifuku. Faint pink blossoms showered about her like a light summer's rain. "You are not powerful to defeat me." "I know," she replied, "But..." He later sensed her heart continue to beat faintly against his arm, the blood warm and inviting to the Tree. As he withdrew his fist from her body, he gazed at that familiar face one last time and frowned.../ His eye opened as he forced himself awake and found himself looking straight into Subaru's serenely sleeping face. A mild unease stirred within Seishirou's mind and he whispered, "We shall see about this in the morning..." "Did you say something?" Subaru asked as he opened his eye hazily. Seishirou brushed his fingers across the Sumeragi's hair and said, "Nothing. Now go back to sleep." Subaru returned to his own dreams as if by magic. * Subaru surveyed the busy streets below. The lunchtime office crowd was thronging the intersection, rushing to reach the other side before the traffic lights changed and the cars took over the streets. "Why are we here?" he asked Seishirou. "Because I've invited the two of you," came a reply. Subaru turned around to see Fuuma walking towards them, a cold smile accentuating even colder eyes. "See the little ants busy with their chores, fully oblivious to the disaster that's about to disrupt their tiny little world," Fuuma quipped. "And they'll continue being oblivious as long as I can help it!" a female voice sounded. The three of them turned towards the source of that voice and saw Kasumi Karen and Aoki Seiichirou perched on the rooftop of the building across the street. Karen was balancing a flame on her palms while Seiichirou was already creating a kekkai to envelop the entire area. Soon the noise of traffic disappeared as the cavernous echo created by Seiichirou's kekkai surrounded the five of them. "The Dragons of Heaven are more prompt than usual," Fuuma commented dryly, "Do you really think that the both of you can defeat me? I'm a little disappointed that Kamui isn't here. It would have made things a little more interesting." The last statement was directed at Subaru. Subaru was about to reply when Seishirou interrupted, "My pact with Subaru-kun is still operative. I'm strictly here as an observer. Don't expect any involvement from me." Smiling tenderly to Subaru, he said, "Come Subaru-kun. Things are going to get messy around here. Let's find a safe spot to watch the proceedings." With a single leap, he flew to the rooftop of one of the taller buildings that provided a clear view of the battleground. Subaru paused to look at Karen for a moment before following the assassin. Karen was perplexed by the game being played out in front of her. She was glad that the Sakurazukamori was staying out of the fight - she had little confidence of taking on a lone Fuuma even with Seiichirou's help, much less with Seishirou involved. However she was bothered by Subaru's appearance and wondered where it all fitted into the puzzle. She did not have time to think further when Fuuma fired his first shot. Seiichirou immediately set up a wind barrier to disperse the blow. "Aoki-san, now!" cried Karen as she cast a pillar of fire towards Fuuma. Seiichirou nodded in acknowledgement and supported the pillar by snaking a column of high velocity wind around it, greatly fanning the original power of the flames. Fuuma only had time to set up a psychic barrier to protect him from serious injuries as the force of the impact sent him crashing against a wall. >From their vantage point, Seishirou was watching the scene below with amusement. "Those two certainly work well together," he commented, "I wonder if we have reached such an understanding yet, Subaru-kun?" Subaru did not reply, his attention completely focused on the fight, though his face betrayed no emotion. Down below, Karen and Seiichirou continued to use their combined powers to hold Fuuma at bay. /Now we've got you/, Karen thought. Fuuma wiped off a streak of blood flowing from the cut on his cheek and smiled. Karen frowned at the unexpected reaction. Suddenly she heard a noise above her. Looking up she was shocked to find a concrete slab falling towards her. Before she knew it, she felt someone pushed her out of harm's way. She looked back and to her horror, she saw Seiichirou pinned under the slab, badly hurt but still conscious. "Aoki-san!" she screamed and tried to reach Seiichirou, but was interrupted by a powerful blast from Fuuma. Fuuma grinned. In his palm, a concentrated ball of energy was gathering. Seishirou noted the tension in Subaru and said, "Looks like it's going to end." A strange expression took over the assassin's face as he saw the silent Sumeragi take one step forward. * "It's Aoki-san!" Sorata shouted, feeling the familiar tingle from the Dragon of Heaven's kekkai. Arashi made a nod of confirmation. At that moment, the door to the Control Room in CLAMP Campus flew open as an excited Yuzuriha came rushing in. "What's wrong?" Sorata asked. "Kamui-san..." said Yuzuriha, trying her best to catch her breath. "Kamui-san is missing from his room." Arashi frowned at the news while Sorata muttered a curse. "We've got to find him," he said, "And I think I know where." All three Seals left together. * Subaru watched in horror as Fuuma discharged another blow at Karen. He was about to intervene when a barrier suddenly formed around Karen and shielded her from the impact. A teenaged boy ran towards her. "Kamui!" gasped Subaru. Standing by his side, Seishirou frowned. "What are you doing here? You're not fully recovered!" demanded a shocked Karen. Before Kamui could answer, Fuuma addressed him, "Planning to sacrifice yourself so soon after our last meeting?" "Shut up!" Kamui shouted, anger flashing in his eyes. At that very moment, he caught sight of Subaru looking at him from the nearest building with an incomprehensible expression, the Sakurazukamori by his side. "Subaru," he whispered, feeling the tears gathering around his eyes again. "Kamui, watch out!" Karen screamed as Fuuma launched another attack. Fortunately a wall of wind gathered around them, deflecting the shot. Karen turned round and was happy to see Seiichirou struggling to stand. He had earlier managed to lift the weight off him with his powers. "Enough games," Fuuma declared, a hint of displeasure in his eyes as he gathered more energy around him. Kamui followed suit. Karen watched the two "Kamuis" cast a beam of energy towards each other. The beams met head on, counterbalancing each other as Kamui and Fuuma each fought to sustain their own attack. Any lax in concentration would bring about deadly repercussions. Noticing that Kamui was slowly beginning to falter, she cried out to Seiichirou to help. The three Seals combined their power to hold off Fuuma in a deadlock. Subaru felt his conscience tearing at his soul as he watched his ex-comrades struggling against Fuuma, and remembered the pained look on Kamui's face when he saw Subaru moments ago. As he moved forward another step, somebody grabbed his hand. He turned around to see a solemn looking Seishirou. "If you make that move, the pact will be over and we shall both return to our respective sides," Seishirou warned, "Nothing will be the same again." "My sister will tell me that the pact is meaningless as long as we both believe in each other. Kamui cannot survive this fight in this state. I do not want his death on my conscience as well. I'm sorry, Seishirou-san, but I hope you will understand." With those words, he pulled his hand away from Seishirou's grip and leapt off the building while simultaneously casting a flight of shikigamis between Fuuma and the three Seals. There was an explosion of psychic force as the shikigamis hit the battling energy fields to break up the stalemate and separate the two sides. Subaru then landed gently beside Kamui. "Subaru!" cried Kamui hopefully as he struggled towards the onmyouji. Subaru held out his arms to support the weakened boy. "Are you all right?" he asked worriedly. Kamui nodded once. Suddenly, he grabbed hold of the onmyouji and clung onto him tightly, as tears of joy streamed down his cheeks. "I am glad that you're back!" he uttered between sobs. By this time the Sakurazukamori had also joined his own /Kamui's/ side. He did not speak, but narrowed his eye in clear displeasure at the sight of the young Seal hanging tenaciously onto Subaru. Fuuma chuckled and spoke aloud to him, "I see that you have lost our little Bet, /Seishirou-san/." Subaru instantly froze at the sound of the word 'Bet' and stared at his lover. "What did he mean by that?" he demanded to know. Seishirou did not reply while Fuuma grinned in wordless amusement. The Sumeragi asked again, "Was everything a 'Bet', a game for you all over again?" "I did warn you before you so recklessly decided to rescue your pretty Kamui," Seishirou replied. "What about us? I thought we loved each other!" his voice quivered while his emerald eye trembled with unsettling emotions. "Correction, Subaru-kun. You said you love me. I mentioned no such thing. However, in all fairness, I had to admit that you were rather fascinating. None of my other paramours lasted more than the first night. I had hoped to extend our acquaintance a little longer but, as you can see now, it is quite impossible." Those words struck like a sharp knife through Subaru's fragile heart. He felt the world crashing about him and he sank to the ground on his knees as the strength in his legs drained away. Kamui tried to hold him up but failed, and dropped to the ground as well. "Subaru!" he cried out but the Sumeragi did not respond. The man's eye had clouded over, a sign that he had shut himself out from the world. "Shall we end their agony now?" Fuuma offered as a hint of merriment danced across his eyes. "Why don't we start with the two of you then?" someone called out. The two Dragons of Earth looked up and saw Sorata staring at them, with Arashi and Yuzuriha standing behind him, ready to fight. Seishirou pondered with a bemused expression and told his fellow Angel, "Looks like all the Seven Seals are here. Why don't we just leave this Kekkai alone for the time being then, as a farewell present to my dear Subaru-kun?" Fuuma glanced at the fallen Seal and shrugged, "He's as good as dead now. But since this is your wish, so shall it be." Seishirou bowed mockingly to the Seals and then, together with Fuuma, vanished into a swirl of smoke. Sorata instantly rushed forward to help Kamui with the stricken Sumeragi, while Seiichirou retracted his kekkai. The sound of traffic hummed back to life as the structural damages to the surrounding buildings miraculously disappeared with the kekkai. Kamui gazed anxiously at Subaru, and then felt a sharp pain coil tightly around his own chest. He, too, fell into unconsciousness as his strength finally gave way, but was fortunately caught by Seiichirou. Karen frowned and said, "We've got to get them back to campus quickly." They left immediately. ----- Dreams of Sakura Home -- http://www.starhub.net.sg/~alison X Shrine -- http://www.geocities.com/asuka_sg</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>