Part Ten
It had been a long, painful two weeks. Subaru had taken to sleeping on the couch, as pathetic as he believed that made him; the bedroom simply reminded him so much of Seishirou that it was impossible to sleep. He missed Johnny, too; the sudden absence of the two people who he was closest to was driving him crazy.
He was fidgety and tense and irritable. He smoked at least a pack a day, as opposed to his normal half-pack. And what made him angriest, absolutely infuriated him, was that there was nothing he could do about the situation. He didn’t know where Johnny was or anything that might help him rescue his friend. He had no idea where Seishirou was or what he was doing. The Angels had been quiet lately - suspiciously quiet.
Subaru didn’t even want to know what Fuuma was planning.
A few more kekkai had been taken down; the Seals had prevented the destruction of a few more. It was almost as if the war was spinning to a stalemate. No winners, no losers.
And Hinoto had been acting very oddly . . .
Subaru shrugged it off, tapping his cigarette against the fence to get rid of the ash. It was a cold day, and it smelled like there was either rain or snow on the way. Personally, he hated winter, and his only idea of a good winter day was to spend it curled up with a mug of cocoa, a really good book, and Seishirou . . .
He shook himself irritably. That was a great idea, to start reminiscing over what the better days had been like. The better days are gone, you got that, Subaru? he lectured himself firmly. Seishirou’s gone, and he won’t be back until this is over, and you have no idea when that will be. Stay focused.
Good thought, now if only he could bring himself to listen to it . . .
“We are the sacrifice,” he said softly to himself, and lit another cigarette.
“Ano . . . Subaru?”
Subaru hesitated a moment, then turned to see Kamui’s wide lavender eyes. He hated being reluctant to see the younger boy, but he just didn’t feel up to another soul-searching session right now. At least Kamui was convinced that Seishirou would be back when the fighting was over, unlike some others . . . Subaru forced a smile. “What is it, Kamui?”
“A letter came for you.” Kamui held it out, looking puzzled. “I guess whoever it was didn’t have your new address and figured this would be the quickest way to find you.”
Subaru accepted the letter and looked at it for a long second. The elegant hand-writing on the front was unmistakable.
“Subaru?” Kamui asked. “What’s wrong?”
Subaru let the envelope slip from nerveless fingers. “I don’t want it. You open it.”
Kamui frowned for a second, then scooped up the envelope and opened it. “It’s from - ”
“I know who it’s from,” Subaru interrupted it.
Kamui hesitated. “D-Do you want me to read it?”
Subaru shrugged. “Go ahead, if you think it says something I need to hear.”
Kamui cleared his throat. His voice trembled a little. “On this, the fourteenth of December, the Sumeragi Clan has unanimously voted - ”
“Never mind,” Subaru said. “I think I don’t want to hear it after all.”
Kamui skimmed the rest of the letter silently, wincing at its well-worded cruelty.
“Out of curiosity, who are they replacing me with?” Subaru finally asked, after a long silence.
“Your, uh, cousin,” Kamui answered hesitantly. “Kai . . .”
Subaru laughed slightly. “He won’t make it. He hates bloodshed. Not to even mention hard work. Oh well, at least all the people who knew me will still hire me and I’ll have some sort of an income . . .”
Long silence.
“Out of curiosity, what are the reasons they list?”
Kamui cleared his throat again. “Um. One: the deception of your Clan. Two: your failure to do your duty where the Sakurazukamori is concerned. Three: your inability or unwillingness to produce an heir.”
Subaru blinked. “Hm. Honestly hadn’t thought of that last one.”
Another long silence.
“I suppose my ‘duty’ was to kill him,” Subaru said.
He lit a third cigarette.
Kamui looked away nervously. “How exactly does the Sumeragi Clan pick its next Head?”
“My grandmother was Head, as was my father,” Subaru replied. “The magic is throughout the entire Clan, but usually runs stronger in one particular bloodline. I suppose it never bothered my grandmother when I was younger because she figured Hokuto would have a child who was fit to be the Fourteenth Head . . . but now that she can’t, I’m obligated to.”
“But why didn’t she bring this up years ago?” Kamui asked curiously.
“I supposed she figured I would get over Seishirou and move on, or at least agree to settle down and find a respectable wife, if for pretenses only,” Subaru said. “I knew since I was a child that one day I would be expected to marry, and all I really hoped for was a woman who I could explain things to who would still be willing to go through with it.” He took a long drag on the cigarette. “But now I don’t have to worry about it.”
More silence.
“I’m sorry,” Kamui ventured.
“Don’t worry about it.” Subaru took the letter from him. “Their opinions were never that important anyway.” He took out his lighter and set the elegant stationery on fire, holding it until it nearly burned his fingers, then dropping it onto the paved sidewalk and watching it burn.
They waited until the ashes had all but blown away.
“Come on,” Subaru said. “Let’s go get lunch.”
****
“I’m getting sick of fast food,” Johnny said as Seishirou dropped a bag in front of him.
“I’m getting sick of you,” Seishirou replied. “If you don’t want it, don’t eat it. I don’t have time to babysit you.”
“So what are you doing that is so important that you can’t get me something that isn’t disguised emu meat?”
Seishirou paused. “That’s disgusting,” he replied.
“I’ve made my point,” Johnny said with a nod.
“As to what I’ve been doing, you know, a kekkai here, game of hide-and-seek with some Seals there, basically making it look like I’m helping Fuuma.”
“Well, if you aren’t really helping him then can I have something else to eat?” Johnny asked. “And lay off the kekkai.”
Seishirou rolled his eyes. “I only destroyed one. Most of the time I let the Seals chase me off without doing anything.”
“Well, then, if you’re letting them throw you off so easily, you have time to get me real food.”
Seishirou gave him a long look. “Johnny,” he finally said, “You have a one track mind.”
“I’m just picking my battles,” Johnny explained. “This one is being waged against bad food.”
There was a long silence while Johnny poked at the hamburger.
“I saw Subaru today,” Seishirou said abruptly.
“Oh?” Johnny asked. “How is he?”
“I don’t know,” Seishirou said. “I didn’t say I talked to him. I just . . . saw him.”
“You miss him, don’t you,” Johnny said.
Seishirou smiled crookedly. “More than I thought I possibly could.”
“Love is a funny thing,” Johnny said, thinking of how much he missed Liam. “Why don’t you try to sneak in a little visit?”
Seishirou shrugged. “Fuuma’s been keeping a pretty close eye on me. I’m not sure I dare.”
“Hit him with a baseball bat,” Johnny suggested. “He won’t be watching anything then.”
Seishirou rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that’s a wonderful idea, Johnny.”
Johnny’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve had plenty of time to think of messy ways to kill the dogfucker. That was a tame suggestion.”
Seishirou sighed. “I’m just worried about Subaru. He doesn’t look so great.”
“Not so great how?”
“He looks tired,” Seishirou said. “Dark circles under his eyes. And something about the way he walks . . . I can just tell. And you know Subaru, when he gets into a funk, he doesn’t eat, he doesn’t sleep . . . I’m just worried.”
Johnny appeared to think about this for a long minute. “My best suggestion is that you get in touch with one of the Seals, send a message through Kakyou and have them watch out for him. Get him to eat, sleep, you know, the stuff he won’t do on his own.”
Seishirou considered this. “That’s a good idea. I guess I’ll do that.”
Johnny shrugged and picked up his burger again.
“Anyway, I need to go,” Seishirou said. “Fuuma was blathering something about the Rainbow Bridge.”
“Push him off of it,” Johnny suggested as Seishirou turned to leave the room.
****
“Why do I get all the difficult jobs?” Subaru muttered to him, getting out of the taxi and walking down the bridge. Hinoto had been acting so strange lately, and it struck Subaru as a little too convenient that he was needed at the Rainbow Bridge just as none of the others could be contacted.
He sighed and took out a cigarette, then nearly dropped it as he looked up and saw Seishirou leaning against the side of the bridge, watching the water below.
“Seishirou.” His voice sounded odd even to him, cold and distant.
Seishirou turned and gave him a long look, hiding his surprise. “Subaru-kun.”
For a long minute, they stared at each other. Subaru had to forcibly restrain himself from tackling the older man. Seishirou’s fists were clenched. Then a peculiar smile twisted his lips.
Before Subaru could react, Seishirou had grabbed him by the front of the shirt, spun him around, and pinned him up against the railing.
For a few seconds, they were unbearably close. Subaru could feel Seishirou’s heart beating.
Seishirou leaned closer and whispered into Subaru’s ear. “Are you being watched?”
Subaru pondered it for a second, then nodded slightly. That would explain a lot, if Hinoto had been questioning his loyalty and had set up this meeting to see what he would do if confronted directly with Seishirou.
“Me too,” Seishirou murmured. He smirked. “What do you say we put on a little show for them?”
Subaru slid one finger up Seishirou’s arm. “Why, dear, I didn’t know you were into that kind of thing.”
Seishirou’s smirk grew wider. “Not that kind of a show . . .”
“Oh,” Subaru said, looking disappointed. “And I was so hoping . . . I’ve been terribly frustrated since you ran off without saying anything.”
Seishirou at least had the good grace to look embarrassed. “You wouldn’t have let me go.”
“Yes, I would have,” Subaru said.
“All right, you would have, but you would’ve felt terribly guilty about it and there was no reason to place that guilt on your shoulders.” Seishirou ran one finger down Subaru’s cheek. “I try to protect you as much as I can.”
(Author’s Note: SEE! I told you all he had a good reason!!! ::coughs::)
Subaru fought not to melt into Seishirou’s arms right there. “As long as you had a good reason . . . now about that show we were going to put on?” He reluctantly pushed Seishirou away and cupped his hands, forming a kekkai. “There, that’ll get every Seal running and it’ll get rid of everyone else on the bridge.”
They played around for a while, sending various magics back and forth to make it look like they were fighting.
“Think anyone will buy this?” Seishirou asked, ducking a few of Subaru’s shikigami.
Subaru considered. “Kamui won’t, Sorata won’t. The Seals who don’t know me as well may, but all that’s really important is that this may get Hinoto to stop pestering me.”
Seishirou frowned for a second. “Hinoto . . . Kakyou told me something about her, now what on earth was it . . .?”
“Not like you to forget something,” Subaru teased. “Old age setting in?”
“I was busy wallowing in misery, give me a break,” Seishirou said.
Subaru laughed. “Will anyone from your side buy it?”
“Probably not, but it’s worth a try,” Seishirou said. He sent another spell out and glanced upwards as Subaru countered and the two spells ricocheted off each other. He was alarmed to see his own hit one of the bridge supports and knock a large block of metal free. “Subaru-kun, look out!”
Subaru glanced up, but there was no time to move. Seishirou leapt forward, careening into him and knocking them both out of the way. There was a long moment of silence as they lay there, Seishirou flat on top of Subaru, both of them out of breath.
“Guess we’re not going to fool anybody,” Subaru murmured.
“Guess not,” Seishirou agreed, and leaned down to kiss him.
Subaru draped his arms around Seishirou’s shoulders, pulling the older man as close as he could possibly get as they tried to cram three weeks of frustration into one kiss. By the time Seishirou pulled away, they were both gasping for air.
“Wanna go for coffee?” Seishirou asked.
“Sure.” Subaru smiled as Seishirou stood and extended a hand to him. He let Seishirou help him up, then cupped his hands and took down the kekkai. The portion of the bridge that had collapsed blurred for a second, then was restored to its normal state of being. “What about Fuuma? Won’t he be mad?”
“Probably,” Seishirou said. “I can tell him it’s retribution for knocking Johnny into a wall.”
Subaru’s eyes widened. “Is Johnny okay?”
“Oh, he’s fine,” Seishirou said. “You know Johnny; it takes more than that to hurt him.”
“True,” Subaru said.
“He’s very angry with me, though,” Seishirou said.
“I’m sure,” Subaru replied. “So where is he?”
“Government building,” Seishirou replied. “Way, way, way underground. Guarded by that computer that Nokoru was telling us about. No way to rescue him; believe me, I already tried. It’s too bad, because the place is usually pretty dead most of the time, but nothing gets in without the Beast noticing.”
Subaru made a face. “Great. And you’re sure that Fuuma would decide to hurt him just because you and I have seen each other?”
Seishirou shrugged. “If Fuuma wants to set me up so I have to fight you, he’s breaking one of our conditions. I wasn’t supposed to have to fight you at all. So I don’t think he’d care enough to hurt Johnny. If he does that, he loses his only leverage.”
Subaru nodded. “Just checking.”
“Come to think of it, why bother with coffee?” Seishirou said, pushing Subaru up against the railing again. “I’m happy right here . . .” He leaned in for another kiss.
“You two,” a voice interjected, “are hopeless.”
Seishirou ignored him and kept kissing Subaru.
“Excuse me,” Fuuma said. “Can you two break the liplock long enough to acknowledge my presence?”
Seishirou turned to look at him. “What do you want?”
“Well, you are in violation of our agreement,” Fuuma said.
“So are you,” Seishirou said. “Let’s call it even, okay?”
Fuuma shrugged. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t like the way Seals keep ‘happening’ to show up in time to stop you from destroying any kekkai. You may say you’re working for me, but you’re not. So why bother?”
“And just what do you plan to do?” Seishirou asked.
“Oh, nothing much,” Fuuma said. He stretched one hand downward, and before either of the other men could react, blasted a large hole in the bridge.
Seishirou’s eyes widened as the bridge started to collapse beneath their feet. “Run!” he yelled, shoving Subaru ahead of him, towards the shoreline.
Fuuma just laughed and took off.
Forgot that the Kamui could fly, Seishirou reflected absently, running full strength for the edge of the bridge. He could just barely see someone standing on the other end, waiting for them.
“SUBARU!” The voice identified the form as Kamui.
“Stay there!” Seishirou yelled. He could feel the bridge giving underneath him. Fuuma must have studied this for hours to find out which one support would collapse the entire bridge, Seishirou thought. Subaru was lagging a few paces behind him; the younger man was not as tall or as fast. Seishirou grabbed his hand and yanked him along.
We’re not going to make it, he realized dimly, and felt himself start to fall. He grabbed Subaru around the waist and flung him forward with all his strength.
“Subaru!” Kamui grabbed Subaru as the onmyouji came flying towards him, then stumbled forward with the weight, dropping to his knees.
Seishirou fell, flailing wildly for anything. He felt fabric and made a desperate grab, catching one arm around Subaru’s feet and dangling helplessly.
Kamui was dragged forward as Seishirou’s weight was added to the pile. He grasped Subaru by the wrists and lay flat on his stomach, trying to spread his weight evenly.
There was a thunderous noise as the bridge hit the water, far below them.
Then everything was silent.
“Subaru . . .” Kamui gasped out. “I can’t . . . hold on . . . much longer . . .”
“Are the others coming?” Subaru’s voice cracked.
“They’re on their way but . . .” Kamui’s arms and shoulders throbbed with the strain. “I’m sorry, I tried to pull you up but the two of you together are too heavy . . .”
Seishirou pressed his face into the back of Subaru’s legs, thinking as fast as he could. He ventured a glance downward and his stomach turned. “What if it was just Subaru?” he asked quietly.
“I could . . . probably . . .” Kamui said slowly.
Seishirou nodded very slightly.
“Seishirou, don’t - ” Kamui began.
Seishirou let go.
“Seishirou!” Subaru flailed, trying to see.
Kamui gathered all his strength into one last burst, dragging Subaru up onto the firm ground. Subaru turned immediately and dove for the edge of the bridge; Kamui caught him around the waist. “Subaru!”
“SEISHIROU!!” Subaru fought free from Kamui’s arms, only to be grabbed by Sorata as he ran up a few seconds too late.
“Hold on,” Kamui told Sorata.
And he dove off the bridge after Seishirou.
He could see the older man below him; Seishirou had tried to twist himself around so he would land feet first but it hadn’t worked very well. I’ll just fly down and grab him, then haul him up, Kamui told himself, but it very quickly became obvious that he couldn’t fly fast enough. Even with gravity on his side, he wouldn’t be able to catch up with the older man in time.
He quickly ran through his options and only found one. If he could fly fast enough to get between Seishirou and the water, the impact wouldn’t hit the older man as hard and he might survive.
Kamui caught up with Seishirou a few feet away from the water. He grabbed the older man around the waist and flipped them over. He did his best to fly upward, slowing their descent enough so that when they hit, it wouldn’t kill them both immediately.
He hit the water on his back, and the pain alone was enough to knock him unconscious.
Seishirou floundered helplessly, trying to reach the surface. Kamui had cushioned the fall for him, but it hadn’t been nearly enough; pain radiated through his entire body. He grabbed Kamui around the waist and held the boy’s head above water, after checking to make sure he was still breathing. It certainly wouldn’t do for him to drown.
He felt consciousness slipping and shook himself, looking around for something useful. They couldn’t float forever.
The water was freezing, sending little icicles of pain throughout his entire body.
There. Some of the bridge had piled up when it had fallen, making a little island. Seishirou swam toward it, dragging Kamui behind him. By the time he reached it, he was exhausted and his entire body was numb.
Let’s see, Seishirou thought blearily. I could either push him up onto it and then climb up after him, or climb up first and pull him up after me.
He decided on the first option. He was running out of energy fast, and it simply wouldn’t do for the Kamui to drown. That would end the whole world right there. Besides, he owed Kamui his life; if he had hit the water at the speed he’d been going at, he would have died.
He got an arm around Kamui’s waist and pushed the boy up onto the bridge, leaving his feet dangling in the water.
Can’t move right yet, he thought, hanging onto the edge of the makeshift platform. So tired . . . so cold . . .
He decided to just hang on, rather than try to climb up. Help would be there soon. Somebody would have to come soon.
He was so cold . . .
Seishirou barely even noticed as his water numbed fingers slipped from their hold on the concrete, sending him sliding underwater without so much as a ripple.
Funny . . . he thought dazedly. It got very cold all of a sudden . . .
He realized what had happened a second too late and flailed desperately for the five seconds before his energy gave out. All that magic had worn him out.
It was a trap, he realized. Fuuma knew what Subaru and I would do. He knew we would put on a show to impress everyone. What better way to wear us out and make us easy targets?
He felt a moment of bitterness at his stupidity, before that was frozen over too.
Light filtered through the water and he watched it play with the shadows, realizing that he was still fairly close to the surface if he could still see light, and if he could just move, he might be able to make it back up . . .
He closed his eyes.
So it turns out that I get to be the sacrifice.
He needed air, which was a problem because he didn’t have air; he was underwater. He had read somewhere that water had even more oxygen than air, so he decided to try it, opening his mouth and breathing in deep.
The pain stabbed at him as the freezing water hit his lungs.
Fortunately, it was over very quickly.
Subaru-kun . . . Seishirou’s thoughts echoed words spoken so many years before.
I really was in love with you . . .
Blackness surrounded him, and the last thing Sakurazuka Seishirou heard was somebody screaming his name.
****