http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/heart6.txt </head><body><pre>After a long break, the next part is ready. Gosh, it feels weird writing Seishirou now. Anyway, in case you're wondering, I did not change any part of this story in response to December Asuka. I already had the whole thing planned out before that came out, and only delayed releasing this part because I expected a deluge of Seishirou&Subaru fics to flood the list. ^_^; Do send me your C&Cs. Thanks. All characters are property of CLAMP. Standard disclaimers apply. --- Vicissitudes II: The Heart of the Sakura (Part 6) An "X" Fanfic Presented by Alison Koh "I'll explain this one more time," Subaru said and patiently repeated the worked example. Kamui stared quietly at the solution. Beads of sweat trickled down his temple as he tried vainly to understand what all the complicated squiggles represented. In the end, he figured that math was going to kill him even if the Promised Day did not. Subaru, though, was secretly smiling. It amused him to see the child blessed with the Power of God to have problems with something as mundane as schoolwork. The perplexed expression on the boy's face as he struggled to comprehend was adorable. Almost like a kitten confronted with a strange toy. Kamui took a deep breath and returned to the question. Slowly, he tried to apply what he thought he had understood from Subaru's instruction, when all of a sudden, a strange sensation whirled through his head. He gripped his face tightly with his hand, vaguely aware of Subaru calling out his name. Weird images collided in his mind and he heard the voice of the Sakura celebrating at the taste of blood. Yet the voice sounded distant, unlike the demanding tone he had previously felt. Summoning all his willpower, Kamui applied the techniques that Seishirou had taught him and forced his mind to focus. The vision became clearer. Through a hazy glow, Kamui saw the Sakura Tree, Kusanagi and... "Fuuma!!" he screamed. A pair of hands gripped tightly about his shoulders, shaking him. "Kamui! Can you hear me?" Subaru asked. Kamui blinked hard and looked up. Subaru was observing him with concern, and when the Sumeragi saw that Kamui was responding, he hugged the boy tightly. "You almost gave me a fright," he whispered to his young companion. "I saw...Fuuma..." Subaru released his embrace and looked at the boy again. "Where?" "I...I think it was...near the Sakura Tree." Just at this moment, Karen entered the room hastily. She asked, "Has any of you seen the Sakurazukamori?" The two Seals shook their heads. "Not since breakfast this morning," Subaru replied. Karen explained, "He's missing." For no explainable reasons, a terrible sense of foreboding began to plague Kamui. He told Subaru, "We've got to look for Seishirou-san. I think he may be in danger." Subaru nodded and the three of them left together immediately. * /So this is how it is going to end./ Kusanagi closed his eyes and prepared for the strike, but it never came. Suddenly, the sound of wings beating heavily against the wind brushed past him from behind, followed by a loud explosion some feet before him. Kusanagi opened his eyes again and saw burnt crisps of strange looking paper talisman floating aimlessly to the ground about him. More importantly, the Dark Kamui was not looking at him but at a point behind him. He did not have to wonder who his saviour was when the Dark Kamui spoke, "It's been quite some time since our last meeting, /Seishirou-san/." "Thank you for taking care of my tree in my absence. But as its guardian, I would prefer to handle the feeding personally." Fuuma laughed, "The blood of mere mortals could hardly satisfy a great Tree such as this. The sacred blood of all the chosen Dragons of Heaven and Earth would make better offerings. Now that you're here, you have saved me the trouble of hunting for you. It is time that the Sakurazukamori retires for a new guardian to take over." Seishirou's brow furrowed upon hearing those words. He said, "You have not been chosen." "You're wrong. The Sakura has chosen 'Kamui'," Fuuma purred, "And I am /Kamui/." In a sensuous fluid motion, Fuuma raised his arms and displayed the back of his hands to Seishirou. The assassin nearly reeled at what he saw. Two Sakurazukamori stars clearly etched on the youthful skin. "Nataku bought me these with its life," Fuuma added as he stroked the marks sensuously, "Aren't they lovely?" Seishirou did not reply. His mind was busy analysing this turn of events. He silently cursed himself for failing to expect it. The two "Kamuis" might be different persons, yet they both possess the same power, and hence the same aura to the Sakura. In other words, like two sides of the same coin, it did not matter to the Sakura which /Kamui/ became the next Sakurazukamori as long as it was /Kamui/. He tried to contact the Tree, to tap into its powers. Even without the Sakura's help, Seishirou was a powerful onmyouji in his own right. But the Sakura amplified his powers, and made him stronger. However, this time, the Tree's support was not forthcoming. Fuuma laughed, "Trying to seek the Tree's help? It's an exercise in futility. You have outlived your usefulness as the Sakurazukamori. The Tree wants a change of guardian now." Saying that, the Dark Kamui opened his palm and a burst of Sakura petals spread forth towards Seishirou. The latter immediately cast out ofudas in five directions to set up a shield around himself. The killing petals crashed against the shield, and Seishirou had to use all his concentration to hold it up. Fuuma curled his lips into a sly grin. Power belonging to the /Kamui/ shot forth from his palm. Seishirou frowned as he did his best to reinforce his shield. But without the assistance of the Sakura, he was vulnerable. The force of the impact slammed against his body and sent him reeling back several steps. Nevertheless he quickly set up another shield as Fuuma prepared to launch another strike. Surprisingly though, Fuuma's power crashed against the shield and exploded harmlessly. It was then that Seishirou noticed another force reinforcing his own shield. "Fuuma! Stop it!" The two Angels turned around and saw Kamui glaring angrily at Fuuma. Subaru and Karen were with the boy. Karen was the first to notice Kusanagi lying semi-consciously on the ground and she rushed to his aid. "Are you all right?" she asked. Kusanagi, hearing a feminine voice, struggled to open his eyes and nodded weakly. "We'll get you out of here," Karen assured him. "This has nothing to do with you, Kamui," Fuuma narrowed his eyes in displeasure. "I am the /Kamui/ of the Dragons of Earth. What I do to my people are none of the Seals' concern." Kamui retorted, "Shiyu-san is a friend of the Seven Seals, and I've granted Seishirou-san protection. I won't let you hurt either of them." Fuuma did not reply. He simply smiled again as a twirl of Sakura petals danced around him. Kamui called out to Subaru, "Please take care of Seishirou-san!" Then he concentrated his own powers in anticipation of his nemesis' attack. Subaru knelt down beside Seishirou's just as the two "Kamuis" began their battle. He heaved a sigh of relief when he noted that the man was not seriously hurt. However, when he decided to get up and help Kamui, Seishirou grasped his wrist and chastised him, "We've got to get Kamui-kun out of here. He should not even be anywhere near the Tree." Subaru frowned when he realised the implications of those words. Kamui's control over the Sakura was still unstable. To be this near the Tree was to invite suicide. Just at that moment, there was a loud explosion. Everyone returned their attention to the battle. Fuuma was lying slumped on the ground struggling to get up, while Kamui stood vigilantly a few feet away. "You're getting stronger because of him," Fuuma commented, referring to Subaru. "I won't let you hurt any more people." "But are you strong enough to kill Fuuma?" the Dark Kamui chuckled. The question brought sadness to Kamui's eyes as they shimmered in moist brightness to the thought of hurting his best friend. However, the boy steeled himself and replied, "If I have no other choice, then yes." The Dark Kamui softened his expression into something resembling the old Fuuma and said, "I have killed so many people, and will continue to kill more. Why don't you finish me off now?" "Fuuma..." Kamui uttered softly as his brain whirled in confusion, torn between his duty as a Dragon of Heaven and his promise to his old friend. "I..." Almost immediately, strong whispers echoed in his mind. Loud pleas, some begging, some demanding, but all with the same message. "/Kill Fuuma...Kill your friend...your enemy...Kill.../" "No!" Kamui screamed and he tried to cover his ears as if it might block out the whispers, while he crouched onto the ground. Seishirou cursed and quickly grabbed hold of Subaru before he rushed towards the boy. "Watch over Fuuma while I help Kamui-kun." Subaru did not argue, as he understood that Seishirou knew what he was doing. So, despite his anxiety over Kamui, he nodded and focused his attention on Fuuma instead. Nevertheless, at the very next moment, Fuuma laughed as a shower of Sakura petals surrounded him. Just before he disappeared completely, he spoke these ominous words to Kamui. "The /Kamui/ was always meant to be alone..." Meanwhile, Seishirou concentrated hard on his spell. Fearing the state of Kamui's mind, he dared not go near the boy. Instead he cast a small magical circle around Kamui and chanted. Within minutes the spell created a dome protecting the boy from the Tree's influence. Kamui gradually calmed down and collapsed onto the ground, unconscious. "What did you just do?" Subaru demanded to know. "He's asleep but we've got to get him out of here quick. I don't know how long my spell can hold against the Sakura's powers. I'll take care of Kamui. You'd better help Karen with Shiyu-san," Seishirou replied. Then, without waiting for Subaru's response, he picked up the limp boy in his arms and took off towards Clamp Campus. He held Kamui tightly and whispered, "It's all right. Everything is going to be all right..." * The door was ajar when Subaru knocked gently and entered. Yuzuriha, who was helping Kusanagi with his medication, blushed in girlish self-consciousness. The Sumeragi, however, did not notice her reaction, being caught in some deep thoughts of his own. "How are you doing?" Subaru enquired. Kusanagi replied, "Thanks to everyone, I'm doing fine. Fortunately, Sakurazuka-san came in time, or I'd be..." He paused and shuddered at the memory. Trying to change the topic, he asked, "How's Kamui doing?" Subaru replied, "He hasn't woken up yet, but Seishirou-san is watching over him." "Aren't you staying by his side too?" Yuzuriha wondered. The question obviously bothered Subaru as he frowned slightly. "Seishirou-san felt that my presence might complicate matters. Kamui hasn't stabilised yet." "Oh." Kusanagi said, "I heard the Tree speak just before we left the place. It swore to have Kamui no matter what. I'm really afraid of what that Tree and the other /Kamui/ might do." "It's all that Sakurazukamori's fault. If he hadn't tried to mark Kamui..." "No, Nekoi-san. The fault is all mine. Seishirou-san did what he had to do to protect himself, and we can see that his suspicions about the Dark Kamui has proven to be accurate. Kamui is suffering because he wanted to help me," Subaru sighed. His melancholic face took on an anguish touched by guilt. "I was too selfish to consider anything beyond my own wish. Kamui shouldn't be paying for my selfishness. It should have been me lying in there now." He rammed his fist hard against the wall, hoping that the physical pain would assuage the deeper one he felt in his heart. Yet, it only made his agony worse. He might have broken down then and there if Karen had not chosen to walk in at that very moment. "Get a hold of yourself," she remonstrated. "Kamui needs you to be strong now. Speaking of which, why are you here and not beside Kamui?" "Seishirou-san says..." "I don't care what he says. But I do know that the first thing Kamui wants to see when he wakes up is your face. Now get out of here and leave these two lovebirds alone." She glared at him firmly to emphasise her point. Subaru, knowing when he was outmatched, left the room quickly. Karen winked playfully at Yuzuriha and followed Subaru out of the room. The inugami-mistress blushed and apologised to Kusanagi, "I'm so sorry about that. Karen-san can be quite...outspoken." "No, I think she's a very interesting and nice person." "I think so too. But sometimes I feel that she's lonely inside. If only she could find her Special Person, but Aoki-san is married or they would have made a lovely couple." Kusanagi ruffled her hair affectionately and said, "Well, some things have to come naturally. Speaking of which, I'm glad to have known you. It has made me realised that it is not important to be a Dragon of Heaven or Earth. What's important is being true to ourselves. "When I was just about to die back there, my only thought was of you." "Kusanagi-san..." Yuzuriha's eyes began to brim over with happiness upon hearing those words. They gazed at each other silently, but words were not necessary to express the special feelings they held for each other in their hearts. The moment might have gone on forever if Inuki had not chosen to bark loudly at his mistress. Instantly, Yuzuriha was snapped back to the present. With a rosy tinge on her cheeks, she pressed some tablets onto Kusanagi's hand, saying, "Well, you'll still have to finish up your medicine." "Aww..." Kusanagi replied in mock disappointment and then they both burst into merry laughter. * Kamui was still sleeping. Seishirou did his best to keep the Sakura's influence away while the boy recuperated. But this was no easy task, not when he could only rely on onmyoujutsu to do it. The Sakura was no longer allowing him to access its powers. As Kamui struggled through what was apparently another nightmare, Seishirou held out a palm over the boy's face to cast the calming spell. Kamui relaxed visibly and continued his sleep. Seishirou rested his hand on the boy's cheeks, gently stroking the smooth skin as he wiped away a few drops of sweat with his fingers. Then he leaned closer to the boy and whispered tenderly, "I'll watch over you." Kamui continued to sleep obliviously; his breathing falling into a delicate rhythm. As Seishirou's hand circled gently around the sensitive area of his neck, Kamui let out a sigh. On an impulse, Seishirou bent down and kissed the boy on the lips. "Subaru..." Kamui uttered. Seishirou instantly sat up but then he relaxed when he realised that Kamui was only talking in his sleep. Yet he felt a aching sensation in his chest, something sour and unpleasant, and almost akin to pain. Was this jealousy he felt? It did not make sense. He could not possibly have feelings, except for those that he experienced as part of his mindlink with Kamui. Nevertheless, he could not explain the strange fascination he now held for the boy. He only knew that he felt like gathering Kamui protectively in his arms, to shield him from all harm. Seishirou had never truly felt this way before. The door to the room opened and Subaru walked in. "Haven't I told you not to be here?" Seishirou looked at him sternly. Subaru simply replied, "Kamui needs me." Then he walked over to the bed and sat down on it, right beside Kamui as he had always done before on countless nights when Kamui lay injured, holding tightly onto the boy's hand. The familiarity implied by that handholding brought an unexpected ache to Seishirou's heart again but he hid it well. Silently, he reminded himself that he was not really feeling anything special for Kamui, that it was the boy's own strong emotions which were confusing him. On the other hand, if he was truly mirroring Kamui's emotions, should he not be feeling something for Subaru instead? Yet his attitude towards Subaru had not changed, except perhaps a greater respect for the Sumeragi's abilities. And now, there was also envy. The trio formed a strange sight in the silent room. Seishirou on the chair, Kamui asleep on the bed, with Subaru seated just next to him. Minutes passed and then hours. * /He was alone in the darkness. Now and then, a bright pink hail of Sakura petals, accompanied by sinuous vines dancing menacingly, would rush towards him as he screamed in terror, only to be dispersed harmlessly by some unseen force. He dropped to his knees and sobbed quietly. He wanted to hide, to be away where the Tree could not find him. He wanted to be in a place where he could no longer be a threat to Subaru, even if it meant death. But now, even that choice was denied him. There was still the Dark Kamui. His twin star would willingly do what he had refused to do so. He had to stop Fuuma but he was afraid to face the Sakura. A pale figure materialised before him. Kakyou. Dreamgazer to the Dragons of Earth. "Kamui...can you hear me...?" he cried out sadly. The image was weak, very much unlike their previous meetings. Kamui nodded. Kakyou continued, "There is not much time...use the Shinken...only the Shinken can stop this...and trust your own heart..." "I don't understand," Kamui replied desperately. "You do, except that you don't want to...there is no time..." Suddenly Kakyou's words were cut short by a burst of crimson exploding from the dreamgazer's chest. As his body floated lifelessly to the ground of the dreamscape, the laughing silhouette of the Dark Kamui disappeared gradually behind it. "No!!" Kamui screamed..../ * /...and woke up to the worried faces of Subaru and Seishirou hovering above him. "Kamui, it's all right. We're here," Subaru tried to calm him down. "Subaru!" Kamui cried out and sat up immediately, flinging his arms tightly around his Special Person. Tears began to flow along his cheeks as he struggled to resist the call of the Sakura tearing at his mind. He only wanted to feel the comforting presence of Subaru even if he was to go insane. Subaru returned the embrace willingly, but he was still worried about Kamui's condition, especially since the boy was crying. "What's wrong, Kamui?" Seishirou answered for him, "Kakyou is dead. The Dark Kamui just killed him." "What?" Subaru stared at Seishirou in shock. "One more sacrifice to the Tree. Since the encounter yesterday, Fuuma must have realised that Kamui was still stronger than he is if the boy is intent to fight. For this very reason, the Tree prefers Kamui, but Fuuma would not accept it. The Dreamgazer may not be a fighter but his blood is a very powerful offering. We must find a way to destroy that Tree." Subaru took some time to digest the information, and then he asked, "But if we do destroy the Tree, what would happen to you?" Seishirou replied grimly, "I'm still bound to it even though it is seeking to replace me. Frankly, I don't know what would happen." "Kakyou told me to use the Shinken," Kamui finally spoke. "The Tree might destroy you too," Seishirou warned. Strong determination burned in Kamui's eyes as he said, "Even so, I must stop Fuuma." Subaru did not know why, but he felt an uncontrollable shiver when he heard those words. * Sunlight sneaked into the room from the gap between the curtains, shining directly onto his face. Seishirou woke up with a quick stretch as he usually did, and sat up on the bed. It had been an exhaustive affair watching over Kamui the previous night. Subaru himself was almost on the brink of physical collapse if Seishirou had not forced him to go to bed as well. However, something was different about this morning, something was missing. It took him a few seconds to figure out what it was, when there was a quick knock on his door before it suddenly burst open. Subaru was breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath, while his face spelled "panic" all over. "Kamui is missing from his room," he said. Seishirou uttered a curse. "Something is wrong with the Sakura. I can't feel it any longer. Wait for me downstairs while I change quickly." Instantly, he threw aside the bedcovers. Other matters weighed more heavily on his mind than concerns about modesty and he did not care if Subaru was looking. The Sumeragi blushed instinctively and quickly closed the door. When Seishirou turned up in the main hall moments later, the rest of the Seals had already gathered, and so was Nokoru. Their expressions were dark and grim. Seishirou immediately understood why when Subaru told him, "The Shinken is missing." Kamui had left them no choice. Seishirou announced, "We have to get to Ueno Park now." ----- 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>