http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/simplicity.txt </head><body><pre>"Simplicity" by Lapin Trails of clouds spiraled upward like columns of white smoke, twisting and turning upon themselves, brilliantly shining against a cornflower blue sky. Softly, a breeze stirred slight waves through his dark hair, as he raised a hand to block the glare of the mid morning sun. In the space between his fingers he could see the golden, glowing orb splintering into shards, which cast perpendicular shadows across his uniform. He liked this. There was such serenity in lying beneath the sun, just staring at an endless blue sky, opening into infinity…especially when you considered what the alternative for relaxation might be, lying face down on a plastic coated table with a stranger prodding at “knots” in your body and tape recorded music humming in the back ground. He removed his hand from his forehead and placed it on his chest, letting the sun beat down on his face. Musing absently, he wondered that there was more beauty in a simple truth then in any elaborate scheme. There was more comfort offered in drowsing on a sunny day then swallowing conversation from a group of phony strangers. And that triggered an unsettling thought; had he really grown to resent the company of people? “If that’s true, I certainly picked the wrong side to sacrifice everything for.” Kamui raised his elbows to prop himself up from behind. His eyes, like amethyst jewels, glittered in the sunlight as they followed the trail of clouds again. He realized the unusual pattern was caused by a jet, which also led him to realize the clouds must now be corrupted with pollution and toxic gases. As he sighed, a little intuition sparked in his mind and he angled his head for a glance over his shoulder. There was a window which opened conveniently into the roof; Kamui had found no difficulty escaping the notice of his sensei and crawling through it to reach his present haven. And at the moment, he was in no mood to have this peace be violated. With an audible struggle the window was pushed open, and cautiously a boy peeped out. The sun danced across his hair, giving it a honeyed hue. Kamui was not pleased when he saw who it was. “Segawa-kun, what do you want?” Keiichi’s nervous glance skittered across the rooftop and came to rest on Kamui. “Oh hello Shiro-kun, d-do you really think you should be sitting on a roof like this? I mean-” he broke off into anxious laughter, “It is a /roof/ after all, if you fell, it’s a long way down...” Keiichi glanced over the edge again, and firmly tightened his grip on the windowsill. Kamui narrowed his eyes, more annoyed then angry. He really wished Keiichi would leave. “I know where I am Segawa-kun. Is there some why reason /you/ are here?” Keiichi felt the sharpness behind the tone, but his smile remained. “Ahh, well, you see… since you disappeared from class sensei was wondering where you could have gotten to, so I volunteered to look.” A defensive reflex put Kamui on edge. He leapt to his feet and fixed Keiichi with a glare. “And now that you’re here, you’ve come to collect me? To bring me back for punishment?” Keiichi’s smile lessened, but still wistfully remained. He looked down at his feet. “I’ve come to do nothing of the sort, and I’m not sure what it is you take me for; I was only worried about you. As for punishment, it’s a little late to avoid that…since they already know you left.” He looked up, “But I will not tell them where you are until you’re ready to come back, only-” He gestured to Kamui, “don’t stand up like that on the roof! Really, you might fall; please come back inside!” Kamui found it interesting, when someone previously categorized as being one way suddenly reveals another facet of their personality. Because then you’re forced to rethink everything about them. “But I suppose as imperfect beings, it’s perfectly natural to misjudge. Maybe there’s /another/ kind of beauty… to complicated things.” He looked up at Keiichi and continued softly, “Perhaps there is also less to resent in people then I’ve imagined.” “What’s that Shiro-kun? I can’t hear you, and /please/ come to the window before you fall!” At that Kamui let out a laugh and shook his head, appraising Keiichi with a dashing grin and a mischievous glint in his eyes. Caught off guard by the sudden change in Kamui’s demeanor, Keiichi could only stare as the violet eyes shined and a hand was playfully offered. “I’m not coming over there to talk, why don’t /you/ come over here?” “You must be joking.” But the hand remained outstretched. “No I’m serious. This roof isn’t half as frightening as you imagine; come here and I’ll show you.” “Shiro-kun…” “What’s the matter? I won’t let you fall.” Kamui smiled kindly with his head tilted to one side. Against every ounce of his better judgment Keiichi crawled through the window. With the fine hairs at the base of his neck on end, he hesitantly felt his feet moving forward, inch by inch. He grabbed Kamui’s hand and held it tightly, but started swaying to one side. “Kyaaaa!” Grinning even harder now, Kamui pulled him up from his crazily lop-sided stance and held him straight. Keiichi squeezed his eyes shut and leaned forward to press his face into Kamui’s shoulder. “This was so stupid, I /hate/ heights! Why did you make me do this Shiro-kun!” Any pent up tension Kamui had was released while heartily laughing at Keiichi’s terror. He guided them both into a sitting position and put a steady hand on Keiichi’s shoulder (to keep him from tipping backwards, as the boy seemed inclined to do). They had a moment’s respite, and Kamui became oddly aware of how Keiichi’s starched, uniform shirt brushed lightly against his arm. That, and the other boy’s tousled hair as it shone in the light. Keiichi slowly tried to speak. “I can’t believe you were lying down over there before.” He said, pointing to where the roof noticeably angled downwards. “Heights don’t bother me.” “Oh /apparently/, and neither does skipping class or convincing me to leap to my death out on the roof.” Kamui moved his hand around to Keiichi’s other shoulder, giving him a friendly pat. Then, holding onto the fabric which hung there, he said: “I’m glad you came to find me.” “Are you sure? Because you didn’t seem to appreciate it earlier.” “I was in a strange mood, but you made me realize something.” “What’s that?” “Well, all this attention you’ve paid me… it really bothered me at first.” There was a profound pause. “… /I/ bothered you?” Keiichi wore a wounded look, and Kamui tried hard not to smile. “Yes… a little bit… but only in the beginning. I’ve realized you’re really a… good thing. I’m having a lot of trouble right now, in my life, and then I came to a completely new school.” The breeze stirred both boys’ hair as Kamui paused. Keiichi inclined a little more towards him. “And then out of no where, you – a stranger – are so eager to be my friend. It’s helped increase my faith in people a little more… to know that they are still this kind hearted.” Keiichi looked away, blushing at the implied compliment. “I-I wasn’t doing anything special, you just seemed lonely.” He looked back at Kamui for a moment, “And… and I like you Shiro-” he stopped himself from saying more, and looked away again. He didn’t have to finish; Kamui understood what he meant. Running a hand softly through Keiichi’s hair caused the blond to quickly return his focus back on Kamui. And Kamui’s eyes held him there, allowing him to stare without any fear of confrontation. He found it strange that a fair-haired, pleasantly normal, young man should pursue him- when his usual tastes tended to lean towards the dark and brooding. While simply staring at Keiichi’s bright eyes, it was increasingly obvious how different he was from Kamui’s “norm”. He was not the elegant, long-limbed Sumeragi, the perpetually melancholy man who, nevertheless, managed to light fires in Kamui’s heart with the simplest of touches or the vaguest of smiles. Kamui adored Subaru, with an admittedly child-like devotion, and cherished the closeness borne between them during such a turbulent time. But Subaru was always in a place Kamui could not reach, and only the Sakurazukamori seemed to know how to touch him there. Knowing that filled Kamui with empty jealously, and in the end, Subaru only left him yearning for something more. Then, there was his dark shadow- his other half- who penetrated and possessed him like none other had. “Fuuma…” he whispered under his breath. Fuuma: his child hood friend; one of two reasons he wanted to save humanity; his purpose for returning to Tokyo. Then, through the cruelest twists of fate, the one Kamui would have sacrificed anything to protect ultimately became the one he would have to sacrifice everything to destroy. And still, even after witnessing the monster he had become- the atrocities he committed- Kamui could not kill him. Fierce desires of need overtook him in the Fuuma’s presence, a need to see him redeemed, a need to protect him, to protect things /from/ him, and… … To be with him. And then there was sweet, simple Keiichi. Who demanded nothing of him, a calm center in the midst of a violent storm. “Shiro-kun?” Kamui smiled cutely as he propped his chin on Keiichi’s shoulder. “Hai Segawa-kun?” Keiichi allowed himself a little laugh, but became serious again. “Do you… do you like me too?” Kamui let his head tilt to the side, his dark hair brushing under Keiichi’s ear. “Yes, I like you. You’re a kind friend.” “That isn’t what I-” “I know.” Kamui turned his face towards Keiichi’s neck, catching a light scent lingering on the other boy’s collar. “But I need a friend right now, that’s all and… we get along, right?” “Yes, we do.” “So let’s be friends.” “...” “What is it?” Kamui sat up a little, his breath a slight tickle in Keiichi’s ear. “Shiro-kun has someone else then?” Kamui let his face fall forward, into that soft place where Keiichi’s shoulder arched into a slender throat. “Yes, two in fact. And I’m quite torn in my situations with both. It would be so unfair to add you to the tangle, wouldn’t it?” “I suppose…. Fine then, Shiro-kun. I’m contented.” “Call me Kamui.” Both boys sat happily in silence, beneath the warm sun and brilliantly blue sky. Until something occurred to one of them. “Hey, won’t you be in trouble too if you don’t return to class soon?” “Nah, they won’t mind. I’m still “looking” for you, remember Kamui-kun?” A beautiful day didn’t matter any more, as it dawned on Kamui that the most complex emotions were truly the most beautiful. Like friendship, and love… which were are as far from simplicity as they could get. And /nature/, it could never be anything more then it’s outward appearance, unless the person you were sitting with inspired you to give it a deeper meaning. It’s all about the /company/ you keep, and the relationships you choose to cultivate. “So maybe I picked the right side after all.” “Huh?” “Nothing,” Kamui closed his eyes, “I’m contented too.” I’m not going to disclaim these characters because the people who own them aren’t reading this. And even if they were, I truly cannot conceive of them giving a damn one way or another. Besides, (now hop onto the logic train with me) if I /did/ own them I’d: a) be rich and b) have no reason for writing fan fiction since they’d already be doing what my twisted mind envisioned and c) I’d probably have 10 million dollars and three Hawaiian Islands. Okay, that last one is wishful thinking ^.^</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>