http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/heart3.txt </head><body><pre>Sorry everyone, and thanks for your patience. Exams are finally over and I can return to my writings. C&Cs are welcome. All characters are property of CLAMP. Standard disclaimers apply. --- Vicissitudes II: The Heart of the Sakura (Part 3) An "X" Fanfic Presented by Alison Koh "They're hiding something from us," Sorata said, referring to Subaru and Kamui. All the Seals, with the exception of the two being discussed, were gathered around a table in a small café in campus. Yuzuriha chirped in, "But why? Why should they do that?" "Because it has something to do with the Sakurazukamori perhaps?" Karen answered as she gently replaced her cup of tea onto the saucer. "Hasn't he caused us enough trouble?" Seiichirou said. Sorata replied, "Obviously not, as it seems to be the case." "Well," Karen said, "If they're not going to tell us, then I'm not about to sit around and wait for them to do so." "What do you intend to do?" Arashi asked. Karen smiled mischievously, "A little detective work of my own." * The man had begged him, had tried to appeal to his compassion with a touching tale of an ailing mother, a devoted wife and a young son awaiting his return back home. It was not unusual for his victims to beg. What surprised the assassin was his own hesitation. He had paused for a brief moment, as the man prostrated himself on the ground. In the end, Seishirou did complete his job, but he could not help but wonder if he might have made an exception this time around. And if not this time, perhaps the next. The deceased was basically a decent salaryman who had the misfortune to accidentally witness the indiscretions of certain politically influential superiors, who would prefer to have the entire matter hushed up. As a result, he was presently lying in a crumpled pile at the Sakurazukamori's feet. Seishirou inhaled deeply, feeling the heat course through his lungs before exhaling the carcinogenic smoke. In the past, he would smoke a cigarette after every assignment as a form of relaxation from the adrenaline rush of the kill, much like how lovers typically enjoy a cigarette after a session of intense lovemaking. Now, though, the stick between his fingers was a desperate attempt to drive the disorienting sense of guilt from his mind. To be effective in his job, he could not afford to feel guilt. Guilt would lead to hesitation, and hesitation to mistakes, and mistakes meant death. And that was why the man had to die after all. Seishirou could not afford a mistake, not when the Tree was already preparing for his successor. Someone was approaching. The visitor landed gently a few feet away, but Seishirou did not have to turn around to guess who it was. "You just killed again," Subaru spoke, his eye gazed dully at the dead body on the ground. The assassin shrugged off the remark, "Are you planning to avenge him?" Subaru did not reply. Instead he observed the assassin coldly, noting a slight but odd twitch in the fingers that held the burning cigarette. Time stood still momentarily as the two onmyoujis faced each other in the cool night air. Finally, Seishirou broke the silence. "Obviously you're not here to admire me. You wish to speak?" He had a good idea what Subaru wanted to say but he preferred to bide his time. Nine years of stalking and being stalked by the Sumeragi had taught him that to rush Subaru would be to force the latter to withdraw instantly in the opposite direction. Patience reaps its own rewards, and Subaru had to be led gently, not pushed. The Sumeragi nodded his head slightly but the frown on his face remained as he looked at the body on the ground. Seishirou understood and said, "I know a good place where we could talk in peace. Follow me." Then he leapt into the air with Subaru following closely behind. Soon, they reached the place that Seishirou mentioned. Subaru looked up as they touched the ground, and gasped, "Tokyo Tower?" His companion smirked, "The most power Kekkai in Tokyo and the safest place to talk. /Kamui/ cannot enter until he has destroyed all the surrounding Kekkais, while those of the Dragons of Earth who can are not powerful enough to destroy it yet. There is no better place." Without waiting for Subaru's reaction, Seishirou paid for two admissions and headed towards the elevator that would bring them up to the observation decks. Subaru quietly entered after him. * The night view of Tokyo City from high up in the Special Observation Deck was fascinating, and Subaru found himself almost forgetting the unfortunate victim of the Sakurazukamori who was probably still lying cold on the roof of some nameless building. The place was almost empty, for few were willing to pay the extra to view Tokyo City from this height. With many parts of the city in ruins, the citizens of Tokyo had more on their minds to worry about than to enjoy breathtaking views at cut-throat prices. From his vantage point, Tokyo seemed almost beautiful; the suffering and despair of the man-in-the-street made inconsequential by the distance. "It brings back memories, doesn't it?" Seishirou remarked wistfully by his side. Subaru sighed, "I've left the past behind." "Completely?" Subaru did not answer. "I still recalled how Hokuto-chan insisted on dragging me here that day when you had your assignment. She said that every Tokyo couple in love must visit Tokyo Tower at least once. We've been here twice now. What does that make us?" Seishirou asked, but not without a hint of amusement in his voice. Subaru's countenance, however, was deadly serious. He watched the assassin warily and, perhaps, a little hopefully, and said, "Please let Kamui go." "You know my conditions. Have the other Seals agreed?" His companion shook his head. "They have not been told anything yet. Kamui would not allow it." "Then you have approached me with nothing more than hope for my charity." "No, not exactly," Subaru replied. He averted his eye away from the Sakurazukamori, as if afraid to let his enemy read his heart through his gaze, and turned his attention to the view below. In a hesitant voice, he continued, "I'll do anything you want of me, as long as you free Kamui." For a brief instant, Seishirou did not say a word. Then he raised his fingers to Subaru's chin and drew the other to face him. "Anything at all?" the assassin asked. Subaru nodded haltingly. A smirk crept up the corner of Seishirou's mouth, and he slowly leaned closer towards the Sumeragi. Subaru closed his eye, his body tensed as he waited for that touch. But just as he could almost feel the warmth of Seishirou's breath on his lips, the older man suddenly pulled away and laughed. Subaru immediately looked up. If he had been expecting the man to mock him, he was to be disappointed. Instead, he thought he saw a kind of poignant understanding flicker briefly across Seishirou's eye. Subaru eyed him curiously. Seishirou said, "You must love Kamui very deeply if you were willing to sacrifice your own happiness for him. But have you considered about how much deeper you would have hurt him?" Subaru looked away, his face lightly tinged with his shame. Seishirou continued, "I am very much aware that he could feel my...pain. But the link works both ways, and I know that he loves you very much too. I may not have much emotions myself, but Kamui's despair have recently been very unpleasant to bear." "Seishirou-san...I..." "Please don't say anything. It's a matter of time before the Dark Kamui kills me. I don't place much hope on his benevolence. Either your comrades learn to trust me or there's no way else about it. Besides, there are some things that I am not so sure any longer..." the assassin allowed his voice to trail off into the silence, refusing to elaborate. Just then a figure walked out from the shadows and spoke, "I think I can speak for the others when I say that we're willing to give you one more chance." The two men turned towards the voice. Kasumi Karen walked cautiously towards them and stopped a few steps away. "What a pleasant surprise to meet you here?" Seishirou remarked. "Really?" Karen feigned amazement. "I've been tailing the two of you for so long that I thought you were ignoring me on purpose. But then I almost lost you for a while back there. Until I saw Tokyo Tower in the vicinity and figured you might be here." Seishirou gazed at her appreciatively. "Unlike most Japanese men, I admire intelligence in a woman, more so when they're beautiful like you." "I'm flattered. I was always under the impression that you preferred younger boys. I see that I may have been mistaken," Karen said without blinking. Subaru instantly blushed at the remark. "Not at all," Seishirou chuckled, "I am a man of varied tastes." "In that case, I shall see that your stay at CLAMP campus will be an interesting one without having to disturb Kamui and Sumeragi-san." Saying that, she walked aside and pressed the button for the elevator. When it finally arrived, she looked at the two onmyoujis and said, "Shall we make a move?" Seishirou smiled, while Subaru nodded in gratitude. * Kamui hesitated for a moment. All eyes were on him as the Sakurazukamori stretched out his palms in welcome. A pair of hands rested on the boy's shoulders and he turned his head slightly to see Subaru smiling assuredly at him. Taking a hopeful intake of air, Kamui offered his hands to Seishirou who immediately enfolded them within his own palms. Closing his eye, he murmured a spell and then released his hands. Everyone stared in shock, while Seishirou's brow twisted into a frown. There, clearly visible on the skin of Kamui's hands, were the Sakurazukamori stars. They had not disappeared. "What is going on?" Subaru demanded an explanation. Seishirou stepped aside, thinking hard, and then he said, "It is as I feared. The Tree has tasted the power of the 'Kamui' and it has no plans to relinquish its hold on Kamui yet." "You...!!!" Subaru shouted and then he stopped, for he suddenly remembered that Kamui had gone very silent. He gazed down at the boy and whispered his name gently. "Kamui?" The boy had been staring blankly at his hands but slowly lifted his head at the sound of the Sumeragi's voice. He forced a smile and said, "I'm all right, Subaru. We'll just have to find another way." Standing in a corner, undetected by all except the sharp eyes of Karen, Seishirou was holding as inconspicuously onto his heart as possible, as if in pain. "Does this mean that we do not have to honour our bargain with the Sakurazukamori anymore?" Yuzuriha asked innocently. The other Seals looked around at each other, unsure of the answer themselves. They had agreed to grant Seishirou asylum but it was on the condition that he released Kamui from the curse of the Sakura Tree. Now that he had failed, they could not decide if the agreement still held. At last, Seishirou helped them out of their dilemma as he offered, "I may not be able to fight the Tree's powers, but I can teach Kamui to manage its influence." "I'm not letting you train him to be the next Sakurazukamori," Subaru warned. "I'm not teaching him to kill; only the control and meditation techniques unique to my Clan," Seishirou clarified. "I am neither stupid nor suicidal enough to train someone to kill me as all the Sakurazukamori heirs are expected to do." Subaru clenched his teeth in silence as he held Kamui protectively in his arms. The boy had returned to staring at his hands. "I shall trust you," Karen said, "Just this last time. "But if you betray us again. We'll save the Dark Kamui a lot of effort with regards to your fate." ----- 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>