http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/sakura.txt </head><body><pre>This is a new one-shot fic. Comments and feedback are welcomed. Thanks. All characters are property of CLAMP. Standard disclaimers apply. --- Sakura Rain An "X" Fanfic Presented by Alison Koh He walked away from the celebrating masses thronging the open grounds of Ueno Park to watch the annual blooming of the Sakura in April, and made a turn into a lesser-known path. He ignored the sounds of the thick brambles snapping under his feet - several times, he almost tripped over a loose branch or rock - but his mind remained focused on his destination. After a bumpy five minutes journey, he reached the particular tree. The season for the Sakura was almost at an end. Like all the other trees in the area, the flowers on this one were already starting to shed. He sat under the tree, leaning against the trunk. Above him, the branches swayed gently in the breeze, producing a riveting dance of pink blossoms. He held up a palm, sensing rather than seeing the petal, which floated its way onto it. As he clenched his fist over it, he gazed to the blue sky and summoned the bittersweet memories. A strong wind wafted past, sending a shower of Sakura petals swirling around him like a gentle rain. Tears trickled down his cheeks as he recalled that single face, full of sadness and grace. * "Fuuma! No!" Kamui screamed, thrashing his arms wildly. Subaru caught hold of his arms, shaking the boy gently and called out, "Kamui, wake up!" Kamui whimpered slightly and calmed down. Gradually his eyelids quivered a little as he roused himself from the nightmare. He opened his eyes and saw the Sumeragi watching over him, his deep emerald eye brimming with concern. "Are you all right?" Subaru asked. Kamui nodded stiffly. With a bit of effort, plus some help from his companion, he pushed himself to sit up on the bed. Then he lowered his head and sighed. "I dreamt of Fuuma...killing Kotori again," he explained. Subaru quietly listened, understanding the boy's pain from the parallels with his own tragedy. He had often dreamt of Hokuto's death by the Sakurazukamori's hands as well, and despite the number of years that had since passed, the pain remained the same. "I want to bring Fuuma back, but I don't know how and I don't have much time. I can feel the Promised Day coming as sure as the blossoming of the Sakura that heralds Spring. "Why must it be Fuuma? Why must I fight him?" He wrapped his arms around his body tightly, reliving the nightmare that had haunted him for the past year. Subaru reached out a hand to hold him and said, "Some things cannot be reasoned. Perhaps this is Fate. If I hadn't met Seishirou-san under that Tree on that morning almost sixteen years ago, things might have turned out very differently. My sister might have lived, and I might have no qualms about fighting him, because he is the Sakurazukamori and the mortal enemy of the Sumeragi Clan." "A day almost sixteen years ago?" Kamui remarked casually, "Seems like a lifetime to me. I may not even have been born yet." "Really? When's your birthday?" Subaru asked with a smile, hoping that the change in topic would distract Kamui from his memories about Fuuma. Kamui told him. The boy thought he almost saw Subaru stiffen. "Subaru, is anything wrong?" Subaru instantly snapped out of his daze and smiled again. "No, nothing. Since the date is quite close, I was thinking about how we could plan a celebration for you." "Oh," Kamui smiled in return, relieved to see that Subaru had relaxed once more. Noting that the boy was feeling better, Subaru said, "Well, you'd better get dressed for school. You wouldn't want to keep Arisugawa-kun and the others waiting, do you?" Kamui stared at the clock and was shocked by the time. He was going to be late. He burst from his bed and prepared to take a quick shower as Subaru withdrew from the room quietly with a pensive look on his face. * "Is it possible?" Subaru wondered, "Can it just be a coincidence?" Subaru did not believe in coincidence. And if it was not, it certainly explained a lot of things. He walked up to the open window and sent out the shikigami with the missive to his counterpart. His suspicions would be confirmed soon. * All the Dragons of Heaven gathered inside the Special Observatory of Tokyo Tower. Tomorrow was the Promised Day and it was their duty to guard the last and most important Kekkai of them all. Tomorrow was also Kamui's sixteenth birthday. Perhaps to ease the tension of what that day might bring, the Seals decided to hold a small celebration now. They would have a bigger one if they managed to survive the Final Battle. There was only a cake and some drinks, but Kamui never looked happier as he blew the candles to his cake. Everyone laughed and joked a little after that, about making plans for the future, pretending to be relieved that the wait was almost over. Sorata continued to promise marriage to an annoyed-looking Arashi and invited Kamui and Yuzuriha to be the Best Man and Maid of Honour respectively. Yuzuriha giggled excitedly to the suggestion, while Kamui silently observed Subaru withdrawing from the group to ponder in a corner. Later that night, Kamui approached the Sumeragi. "Thank you for organising the party." Subaru replied, "Don't mention it. I didn't do anything except making the request. Arisugawa-kun, Arashi-san and Yuzuriha-chan did most of the preparations." Kamui shook his head vigorously and held on to Subaru's robes. "But you remembered. Nobody ever celebrated my birthday for me before...not even Mother." Subaru wrapped the boy tenderly in his arms. "I see. I'm glad you're happy." He gently ran his fingers through the boy's hair and said, "There's something I need to ask you. Tomorrow, no matter what happens, promise me that you must never give up hope." "I won't," Kamui vowed, "I made a wish just now to protect Tokyo Tower and I 'm going to make sure I succeed." "I wasn't referring to that," Subaru said, "I meant your other wish. The day you fulfil your wish is the day you find happiness. Do not give up hope on Fuuma." Kamui was puzzled and asked, "Will you continue to fight for your wish regarding the Sakurazukamori then?" The Sumeragi did not respond to the question but told him, "It's going to be a long day tomorrow. It's best that you get some sleep. The rest of us will take turns to keep watch in case the Dragons of Earth planned a surprise early attack." Kamui wanted to probe further. His senses were telling him that Subaru was hiding something from him. He desperately felt like clinging tightly onto the Sumeragi, to nestle in the warmth of his embrace, and allow the latter's presence to soothe away all the fears and uncertainties in his heart. Instead, Subaru released the boy, and walked away after wishing him goodnight. Kamui could only stand and stare at Subaru's distant form, his eyes shimmering with a thousand unspoken words. * Someone was shaking him. Kamui opened his eyes and looked into the face of Sorata's. The monk asked, "Have you seen Subaru-san?" "Huh?" Kamui had not quite registered the question, having just awoke from his rest. "He's missing," Sorata explained. This time, Kamui was fully awake. He tried to think. This was the Promised Day, so why would Subaru be missing? He said, "You must be mistaken. Subaru can't be missing. It's..." The Shinken hummed, indicating that the Dragons of Earth were here. Kamui grabbed the sword as the Seals took up positions on various parts of Tokyo Tower. When the Angels arrived, Kamui could not help but notice that the Sakurazukamori was also absent. But before he could analyse further, his thoughts were interrupted by the mocking voice of Fuuma. "Looking for someone? I'm sure Seishirou is entertaining your friend under his Sakura Tree now." Kamui remembered Subaru's words from the previous night. /"Do not give up hope on Fuuma."/ He cried, "Fuuma! Wake up! Don't you remember anything? We were friends!" "I am not Fuuma. I am /Kamui/, and my only purpose is to destroy you and free the Earth from the slow death inflicted by mankind." "But aren't you destroying the Earth by breaking all the Kekkais?" "This drastic measure is necessary to remove the cancer that is killing Earth. After today, She will have a chance and all the time in the world to heal. This is Her Wish." Kamui yelled, "But that is wrong! You have no right to kill people because of your own opinions. There are good people out there fighting to save Earth, to unmake our past mistakes. For mankind to live, people will find a way to ensure that Earth lives. We should give them a chance! Earth's Wish can still be fulfilled if we give them a chance. This destruction will only accelerate the sickness that is plaguing Earth. The resultant leak of radiation from damaged nuclear power plants, poison gas seeping into the atmosphere, collapsed buildings and other man-made structures polluting the earth and the sea. Is this what you want?" Fuuma grinned, "I want to kill you." And he raised his own Shinken to meet Kamui's. Kamui dodged aside and raised his kekkai to envelop the entire tower. The Final Battle has begun. * Kamui could sense the aura of the others slowly disappear one by one as each fought their nemesis to the death. He tried to maintain his concentration against Fuuma, although tears were already staining his face. Fuuma laughed again and said, "Mourning for your lost friends? I do not. All humans have to die anyway. That is the Earth's Wish, and that is /Kamui's/ Wish." He raised his Shinken, preparing to strike a deadly blow at Kamui. "No!" Kamui screamed, "I am the only Kamui and I do not wish anyone to die! I wish this fight to stop immediately!" Suddenly Fuuma dropped his Shinken with a loud clang as his body crumpled to the ground. Kamui ran to his friend. Fuuma looked up weakly and muttered, "Wh...what is going on?" The hard edge has vanished from his eyes as his face softened into his old gentleness. He called out softly, "Kamui...is that you?" "Fuuma! You're back!" This time, tears of joy streamed down his face as he saw his old friend back to his old self. His celebration was joined by Yuzuriha and Kusanagi, the only two Dragons left from the battle at Tokyo Tower. "It's over then?" Yuzuriha remarked sadly, gazing at the bodies of those who died. Kamui nodded his head, except that there was something else bothering him. As if on cue, a gentle and familiar voice echoed in his brain, "Goodbye Kamui. The Balance has finally been restored..." Kamui blinked. "Subaru!" He immediately retracted the kekkai and after instructing Kusanagi and Yuzuriha to take care of Fuuma, flew off in the direction of Ueno Park. * Kamui almost screamed at the sight that greeted him under the shower of Sakura petals under the tree. Subaru and the Sakurazukamori were lying on the ground in a bizarre embrace. Seishirou was holding onto Subaru using his right hand. His left was slammed through the latter's chest, causing a pool of blood to collect at the back of Subaru's pure-white robes. Subaru had his arms around Seishirou's back, one of his hands holding the hilt of a dagger which had been plunged deep into the assassin's back. Strangely, both looked perfectly at peace as they had died smiling in each other's arms. The boy got down beside Subaru's body and extricated it from the Sakurazukamori's. He held Subaru in his arms, his tears pouring down his face and dripping onto Subaru's. The Sumeragi looked as though asleep and Kamui wished it were so, but the coldness of the body and the gaping hold in its chest confirmed otherwise. He brushed his lips gently against Subaru's. "Why..." his voice choked. A voice spoke, "Do not cry for me, Kamui." Kamui looked up and saw the ethereal spirits of Subaru and Seishirou observing him with sad smiles on their faces. /Subaru/ spoke again. "I'm sorry, Kamui. The Promised Day was never meant to be this way. There was to be only one Kamui, that is you, who shall decide the destiny of the Earth. There was not supposed to be any great battle or deaths. It was all our fault." He was referring to Seishirou and himself. "When you told me your birth date, I immediately understood everything. That was the exact day when the Bet between Seishirou-san and I was sealed under this Tree. It wasn't entirely Seishirou-san's fault because he didn't know that I was the Head of the Sumeragi Clan then. But that Bet, which bound our destinies and the destinies of our two families together, had the effect of disrupting the spiritual balance of Japan and the fate of all the Kekkais that depended on it. Somehow, it was that unbalance which gave birth to the Dark Kamui that laid dormant in you until it found a host in your best friend, Fuuma. "My sister tried to redress the imbalance through her death but it didn't work. She wasn't powerful enough, and I...I was unwilling to let go of the past. My desire for vengeance after all these years had only served to precipitate the disaster. Now that Seishirou-san and I are both dead, the threads that bind our families are broken. The Sumeragi Clan and the Sakurazukamori shall no longer affect the destiny of Japan. My wish has finally been fulfilled. Take care of yourself, Kamui. Your friend needs you most now." /Subaru/ encircled his hand around /Seishirou's/ as the two figures slowly faded. A pair of Sakura blossoms defied both gravity and the breeze as they flitted gently into the sky. "Subaru!" Kamui cried out but it was too late. * A year had already past and still Kamui could not forget that face, so soulful and peaceful at once. The kind onmyouji who had plucked him out from the depths of his personal hell, who had lost an eye while trying to protect him, and who had stayed by his side, guarding his dreams while he lay injured for so many nights. "Subaru...do you know how much I've missed you?" he whispered. It might have been the breeze or the rustling of the leaves, but he thought he heard a soft "yes" echoed beside his ear. Kamui released the Sakura petal in his palm and let it float away. "I shall never forget you." Evening was falling. Kamui got up and slowly made his way back home. * He gazed out of the window, watching the Sakura petals wafting past. A pair of strong but familiar hands rested on his shoulders but he did not turn to face their owner. "Kamui," Fuuma said, "Are you still thinking about him?" Kamui did not respond. "I'm really sorry. If only I had been stronger, and fought back the darkness, things might have been different for you now. Kotori might still be alive and you would, at least, be happy." "No," Kamui said as he twirled around, "It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault." He was about to break down again as he felt the tears in his eyes gathering. Fuuma pulled his friend towards him and embraced him tightly. "In that case, let me protect you like he did. Let me comfort you as he would have done. Please, Kamui. I know that I can't demand that you forget him and neither can I replace the special place that he holds in your heart, but please give me a chance to be there for you." This time, Kamui could no longer hold back his tears, and so he allowed them to flow freely, soaking Fuuma's shirt. "I'm sorry, Fuuma. I never realised that I've been hurting you. But thank you for understanding. I'll try my best but I need time." Fuuma smiled and whispered, "That's all I need to hear. Happy birthday, Kamui." They continued to stand there for some time. Along the streets outside, Sakura petals were still raining. ***** Author's notes: Thank you for reading this fic. The ending is a little different from my usual works involving the Major Quartet from X. I hope you enjoyed this one. The title and general mood for the story was inspired by the lyrics to a song by Matsu Takako entitled "Sakura no ame, itsu ka" (loosely translated "When is the Sakura rain"). Below is my English translation of the Chinese translation that came with the CD. ----- Sakura no ame, itsu ka (Lyrics: Matsu Takako) The light of Spring embraces me Alone I cry With not a word of goodbye Somehow Though he has gone faraway, his face appears in my heart All this time, it was you who watched over me by my side And I didn't do a single thing But when I wanted to tell you You had already silently left... If I were to thank you, perhaps we might be separated eternally A journey without conclusion, when and where will we meet again? I still have a lot of things to tell you But I do not know if I can fulfil this wish in my heart anymore... You look so peaceful as if asleep My lips gently touches yours Tears pouring down freely... Sakura falling like rain while my dreams fly with the rainbow You have gone to Heaven and left me all alone "Goodnight" These words have become eternity I muttered alone to myself and looked up The sky above this street is so blue. Sakura is raining outside my window while my dreams fly with the rainbow You have gone to Heaven and left me all alone If I were to thank you, perhaps we might be separated eternally A journey without conclusion, when and where will we meet again? ----- 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>