Part Four
Fuuma looked around the room slowly. Then again. “I’m having a small problem here,” he said conversationally. “I count . . . six people in this room. And there should be eight. Seven Angels. We seem to be missing two.”
“Well . . .” Yuuto looked uncomfortable, glancing at Kanoe as if asking permission to speak. “Sakurazuka-san refuses, and Kuzuki-san died almost ten years ago.”
Fuuma tapped the arm of his chair thoughtfully. “How did Kuzuki-san die?” He directed the question at Satsuki, sure that the computer-genius would have all the information.
“He shot himself,” Satsuki answered. “After lingering in a coma for about six months, a nurse found that someone had unplugged his life support and he had died.”
“Really,” Fuuma said, drawing the word out into several syllables. “And who unplugged his life support?”
Nobody answered.
“Satsuki . . .?” Fuuma asked.
“There is no information,” Satsuki replied. “I’ve had Beast looking for weeks. Nobody knows who did it.”
“How intriguing,” Fuuma said, his voice dripping sarcasm. “I don’t suppose any of you might be capable of getting in touch with him?”
Kanoe shrugged. “If he were to voluntarily enter a Dreamscape I was in, I could talk to him. But I have no way of contacting him.”
“No other onmyoujis here?” Fuuma asked dryly.
After a long pause, Yuuto said, “Sakurazuka-san -- ”
“I know,” Fuuma answered coldly.
“There must be some way of convincing him to work for us,” Kanoe said.
Yuuto spoke up hesitantly. “Sakurazuka seems to be living with the current head of the Sumeragi clan. Which is odd, to say the least. Perhaps that has something to do with it?”
“It has everything to do with it,” Fuuma said.
Satsuki was looking at Yuuto. “Did you say Sumeragi? Sumeragi Subaru?”
Yuuto nodded, bewildered.
Satsuki glanced at Fuuma. “Kuzuki-san’s last visitor was Sumeragi Subaru.”
“Really,” Fuuma said.
Satsuki nodded. “He was suspected in Kuzuki’s death, but being as influential as he is, never got in any trouble over it.”
“What an interesting twist,” Fuuma mused. “That pitiful excuse for an onmyouji didn’t seem like a murderer. Was he alone?”
“I don’t know,” Satsuki said. “But I can find out.” No sooner had she spoken the words, wires shot out from the Beast and wrapped their way around Satsuki. Yuuto gave a little shudder that nobody noticed.
“While, um, she’s doing that,” he interrupted, sounding about as nervous as Kusanagi looked, but who could blame him; it was his first time in the Angel’s headquarters, “what are you going to do about Sakurazuka-san?”
Fuuma smiled. “Oh, I have a few ideas . . .” He looked up at Beast. “Satsuki, while you’re at it, can you get me a phone number and address?”
“Of course,” Satsuki answered, voice muffled through the machinery.
“Good. The number I need is for Sumeragi Sachika.”
****
“So . . .” Kamui said shyly, glancing up, meeting Subaru’s eyes, and then just as quickly glancing back down. “How . . . how did you and Seishirou-san . . .?”
“You want the whole story, or the happy ending?” Subaru asked dryly.
“The whole story, please,” Kamui said. He was fiddling with his shirt between his thin fingers.
Unthinkingly, Subaru reached out and grasped his hands. “You have to be the most nervous person I’ve ever met.”
Kamui turned pink. “Yeah, it’s ingrained.”
Subaru laughed slightly and withdrew his hands. Then he explained the entire messy story to Kamui.
“It really is amazing,” Kamui said when he was finished.
“Which part?” Subaru asked with a smile.
“That . . . that you were able to forgive him,” Kamui said slowly. “I mean, he killed your neesan, and . . .”
Subaru shrugged. “Well, to begin with, Hokuto-chan would’ve had my head if I hadn’t forgiven him. She’s the one who eventually beat sense into me. She made me see that it isn’t my fault that I fell in love with Seishirou, and that . . . that being with him wouldn’t be wrong.”
“Did you know this would happen?” Kamui asked curiously.
Subaru shrugged. “I knew about being a Seal and about the Promised Day. I didn’t know that he was an Angel, although it should have occurred to me long before it actually did. I don’t even remember how it came up in conversation, but it did shortly after we’d put aside our differences. He wanted to talk about it then, but I . . . I just thought we had eight good years before it would be a problem . . . and that we shouldn’t disturb them by planning for the future.”
Kamui rubbed his hands over his face. “Everything got dumped on me so fast,” he complained. “I never thought I was a normal kid, but this . . . and then Kotori . . . and F-Fuuma . . .”
Subaru put an arm around his shoulders. “You have to get past it, Kamui. I know that sounds harsh, but . . .”
“I know.” Kamui rubbed his eyes. “I’m just still trying to figure out how you did it.”
Subaru shrugged. “If I knew, I’d tell you.”
Kamui leaned against him heavily. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said quietly.
Subaru hugged him tightly. “I’m glad I could be.”
****
There’s really no point to this, Seishirou told himself firmly, leaning against the fence and watching Subaru and Kamui. He was just far enough away to not hear what they were saying. He knew that Subaru was aware of his presence, but doubted that Kamui was. It’s certainly not as if they’re going to do something the moment you turn your back, but . . . his thoughts cut off abruptly as Subaru pulled Kamui into a comforting hug. But I don’t like that, his brain finished the sentence for him.
“You always were a jealous bastard,” a voice behind him said, half-amusement, half-contempt, all sarcasm; a tone that could only belong to one person.
Seishirou half-turned to acknowledge the young man’s presence. “It’s your fault, you know. My jealous streak first went rampant when you showed up.”
Johnny smirked and leaned against the fence next to him. “What are you worried about?”
“I should think it’s obvious,” Seishirou said, waving at Kamui and Subaru, who were sitting a little closer together than Seishirou would have liked. “What are you doing here?”
“Subaru told me he’d be here today. I thought I’d drop by during my dinner break and say hi.”
Seishirou nodded. “How are your classes?” It was an routine question, asked automatically.
“Fine,” Johnny said, the unspoken words ‘as if you care,’ hanging in the silence. He and Seishirou had certainly never gotten along, and although they’d come to a grudging truce after the mess had been over, meetings between them tended to be brief and strained if Subaru wasn’t there. They both pretended while Subaru was there (Seishirou more than Johnny), but outside of his presence, neither saw the point.
Johnny turned and gave Seishirou an amused glance as the older man watched Subaru and Kamui intently. “You really don’t have to worry. Kamui’s a cute kid and all, but he’s not the type of person Subaru falls in love with.”
Seishirou tensed. “And what makes you say that?”
“Because Subaru,” Johnny said, pausing for effect, “is an uke.”
Seishirou couldn’t help but laugh.
“And from what Subaru’s been telling me,” Johnny continued, “Kamui is also an uke. Therefore the two of them would never work in a relationship. Subaru needs someone like you, who can be dominant without being domineering. You’re in charge; he likes that. If he was with Kamui, he would be in charge, and he wouldn’t like that.”
“It’s nice to know you’ve analyzed this,” Seishirou said. “Was that for one of your psych classes?”
“Hardly,” Johnny replied. “Trust me. You and Subaru are fine.”
“And how can you tell?” Seishirou asked, curious in spite of himself.
“From what Subaru’s told me.”
“And what has Subaru-kun told you that gives you the ability to judge?”
“If for no other reason, your sex life.”
Seishirou’s head thudded into his hands. “I don’t want to know what Subaru-kun’s told you about our sex life.”
“You have one,” Johnny said flatly. “And after eight years, that’s impressive, to still be skipping work so you can stay in bed. Every time I see him, before he leaves, he always talks about how he can’t wait to get home to you. Every time. That means something.”
Seishirou glanced up at him.
“You make Subaru happy,” Johnny said simply. “Why else would I have put up with you all these years?”
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked toward where Kamui and Subaru were sitting.
Seishirou decided to go, so he could have dinner ready when Subaru came home.
****
Two days later . . .
A knock on the front door jolted Subaru out of the rather dazed reverie he’d drifted into. “Who on earth is that?” he asked sleepily, feeling absolutely no need to move out from where Seishirou was giving him a shoulder rub to go see. It had been a rough few days, really, what with working, making time to see Kamui, and making even more time for Seishirou to prevent the older man’s possessive streak from running wild.
“I’ll go see,” Seishirou said.
Subaru let out a sigh. “Sure, stop the backrub.”
Seishirou smirked. “It’s probably just someone selling something. I’m sure I’ll be back in a minute.”
Subaru leaned against the back of the sofa and waited.
Fortunately, Seishirou had the good sense to check the peephole before opening the door. “Ano . . . Subaru-kun . . .”
Subaru sat up, hearing a warning note in Seishirou’s voice. “What?”
“It’s your grandmother,” Seishirou said.
“Oh, great,” Subaru said, deflating. “Good thing you checked. Go hide in the bedroom; I’ll try to get rid of her as quick as I can.”
“We could pretend to not be home,” Seishirou suggested.
“Too many lights on,” Subaru said. He shooed Seishirou down the hall and opened the door. “Obaasan . . . what a pleasant surprise . . .”
His grandmother was accompanied by two young women, who Subaru was sure he was related to somehow. One was pushing her wheelchair. The other simply hovered. “Do you have company, Subaru?” his grandmother asked archly. “I heard voices.”
“Just the television,” Subaru said offhandedly. “You should have called first; you’re lucky you caught me. I’ve been busy lately.”
“Well, I’m sure you can spare a few minutes for your own grandmother,” she replied.
“That’s not how I meant it,” Subaru said, trying not to sound impatient. He loved his grandmother, he honestly did, but she wasn’t the kind of person he got along with. When he’d been a child, she’d all but terrified him. It had taken years of Hokuto’s berating to switch from ‘obaasama’ to ‘obaasan.’ Now, sensing the reason for the visit, Subaru was beginning to feel distinctly nervous. “Please, come in. Would you like something to drink, obaasan?”
“Tea would be fine, thank you,” she said. The women who had come with her helped her onto the sofa. “Thank you, ladies, now would you mind leaving me with my grandson for a few moments?”
Both ladies bobbed their heads and went for the apartment building hallway. Subaru handed his grandmother her mug of tea and tried to stop being nervous. If she didn’t want anyone overhearing, he really was in trouble. Which meant this wasn’t about his neglecting his duties as a Seal, it was about . . .
“I received a very disturbing message yesterday,” she informed him. “And of course I’m certain it’s not true, but I decided to come here to verify that.”
Subaru tried to look innocent.
“You always told me you lived here alone.”
Subaru bobbed his head and took a long drink of his tea, trying to decide on a course of action. If he lied, his grandmother would almost certainly be able to tell; he had never been a good liar anyway. Over the phone he could manage it, but in person he had no chance. However, if he admitted that he was living with Seishirou . . . his grandmother could cause some very big trouble for him.
Then again, if he lied and she found out, the trouble would increase exponentially. He could hardly keep it a secret forever, though he really had been hoping.
Hm . . . perhaps Seishirou should be here for this little discussion. Then again, since he is the reason she’s in that wheelchair, perhaps not.
“I have reason to believe that this is not the case,” Lady Sumeragi informed him.
“Who told?” Subaru asked innocently.
She bristled. “That’s none of your affair.”
“If this isn’t my affair, I don’t know whose it is,” Subaru said dryly.
“If you must know, the note was anonymous.”
“So you believed an anonymous note over your own grandson. That’s touching, obaasan, thank you.”
“If the note had been untrue,” she said stiffly, “then you could say that.”
“Well, I don’t know everything it said,” Subaru said, sipping his tea.
“Where is he?” she asked coldly.
“In the bedroom.” Subaru paused. “Hiding from you.”
“And who is he?” she asked.
Subaru hesitated for a long moment, then said quietly, “That’s none of your affair.”
“Don’t mock me, young man!” she said sharply. “You may be the current head, but I still hold power. I could -- ”
“You could what, obaasan?” Subaru snapped. “Suspend my position? Take it away altogether? Fine, take it; I don’t want it. I never wanted to be the Head, it was just the position I was born into and it’s caused me all sorts of problems. You can never take away what’s important to me. Besides, you don't have anyone to replace me with anyway.”
“So it is him,” she said.
Subaru just looked at her.
“Sakurazuka Seishirou,” she said, her voice stiff with rage. “He’s a murderer, Subaru!”
“Don’t you think I KNOW that?!” Subaru half-yelled. “I don’t like that, you know, I’m not thrilled that I fell in love with a murderer, with my opposing star, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it. I love Seishirou, and he loves me, and you can’t take that away from me, nothing can.” He wilted back into his chair. “He is everything to me, obaasan.”
“He killed your sister,” she hissed.
“I know,” Subaru said wearily. “But Hokuto-chan’s okay with it, so I have to be too, and if you don’t believe me I’ll summon her right now so you can ask her. She’s the only reason I ever gave in and moved in here anyway.”
“And just what do you plan to do about the upcoming battle?” she asked furiously.
He gave her a weak smile. “I don’t know. Haven’t really planned that far yet.”
“Subaru,” she said coldly, “this is unacceptable.”
“Accept it, obaasan,” Subaru replied, just as coldly. “If I can, you can.”
She stared at him, speechless with anger, for a long moment. Then she clapped loudly. “Mariko! Saito!” Within a second, the two young women were back in the apartment, helping Lady Sumeragi back into her wheelchair. After they had done this, she turned to face her grandson, sitting dejectedly on the sofa. “Subaru, I’ll give you one chance to stop this idiocy.”
“Don’t bother,” Subaru said softly. “I can already tell you I won’t take it.”
She drew herself up straight. “In that case, I feel I have no choice but to bring this up before the rest of the Clan at the next Council meeting.”
“Go ahead,” Subaru said. “None of them like me. None of them ever did.”
Lady Sumeragi sniffed. “Until then, you are relieved of your duties to the Sumeragi Clan.”
“Good,” Subaru said, still looking at the carpet. “I don’t have time right now anyway.”
Lady Sumeragi glared one last time, and allowed Mariko to push her out of the apartment.
Subaru picked up the nearest thing, which happened to be his grandmother’s untouched mug of tea, and hurled it after them. It struck the closed door and shattered, spraying tea everywhere. That helped a little, so Subaru picked up the next thing and threw it, then the next, then the next, tears blinding his vision, until a pair of hands grasped his wrists and held him steady.
“LET ME GO!” Subaru yelled, pulling away from Seishirou. His feet tangled and he stumbled backwards. Seishirou grabbed him and pulled him into a tight embrace. “Let me go . . .” Subaru whispered into his shirt.
“I think you’ve destroyed enough, Subaru-kun,” Seishirou said. His tone was firm, but sympathetic.
Subaru leaned his head against Seishirou’s shoulder.
“What happened?” Seishirou asked.
“Oh, not much, I think I’m just no longer head of the Sumeragi Clan.” Subaru let out a shaky laugh.
Seishirou’s eyes widened. “What on earth did you say to her?”
“It’s not what I said,” Subaru replied, pulling away. “It’s what I’ve done.” He rubbed his eyes. “She found out about you. God knows how; I’m willing to bet the dark Kamui has something to do with it.”
Seishirou just looked at him for a second, not knowing what to say.
“Effective, really,” Subaru continued, his voice a little distant. “You’ve proven that if you have to choose between me and your duty, you choose me. Why not force me to make the same choice?” He sagged suddenly, leaning against Seishirou.
Seishirou helped him over to the sofa, rearranged the cushions Subaru had tossed, and sat down, pulling Subaru into his lap. “Are you all right?”
“Not really, thanks,” Subaru replied. He gave Seishirou a brief sketch of the conversation. “I’m sure at the next Council meeting, they’ll decide I’m no longer fit for the position and find someone else to give it to. Fine, whatever, I never liked being the Head anyway.” He looked up and gave Seishirou a lopsided smile. “You’d better get another job, though, Man of the House.”
Seishirou ran his fingers through Subaru’s hair, hearing the tension in Subaru’s voice. “I’m sorry,” he said after a long pause.
“Me too,” Subaru said, his voice muffled in Seishirou’s shoulder.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” Seishirou said. “The choice was easy for me . . . because I have nobody . . . except for you. You shouldn’t have had to give up your family for my sake.”
“But it isn’t your fault,” Subaru said with a shrug. “You were perfectly content to let me have both. They’re the ones that won’t let me.”
“I suppose,” Seishirou said, though he still didn’t sound very pleased.
“The only people who ever meant anything to me,” Subaru said in a feather-soft voice, “were you and Hokuto-chan. Then later I made more friends. But in the beginning . . . it was just you two. And I know Hokuto approves . . . and Johnny . . . and Kamui, he looks at us like we’re a miracle in action. Which we are, I suppose. So it’s okay . . . I knew obaasan wouldn’t approve. I guess I was hoping she’d never find out. But you know, I’d rather have you and be despised. . . then have them and be lonely.”
Seishirou hugged him very tightly.
“Now,” Subaru said, “you were giving me a backrub, hm?”
Seishirou laughed. “And I bought a carton of strawberries.”
“Whatever would my obaasan think of that?” Subaru mused. “It’s best not to even contemplate.”
****
“Seishirou isn’t lurking today,” Kamui said innocently.
Subaru smiled. “Lurking, hm? That’s a very good word for it. No, he’s out looking for a new job.”
Kamui tilted his head and looked at Subaru carefully. “You look tired, Subaru.”
“I am tired,” Subaru replied. “I had a rather trying day yesterday.”
“What happened? Is there anything I can help with?” Kamui was as eager as always.
“No, it’s . . . pretty much beyond all our control at this point,” Subaru said. “My obaasan found out about Seishirou and I.”
“Oh.” Kamui’s eyes widened.
“She didn’t take the news very well,” Subaru said with a shrug. “On the upside, now I have more time to tutor you, since I don’t have to do my duties as Clan Head anymore.”
“Why did you drop out of school?” Kamui asked as Subaru pulled out a cigarette.
Subaru shrugged. “Didn’t feel like going anymore. Besides, I had to hunt down Seishirou, after all.”
Kamui laughed a little. “I get the feeling Seishirou doesn’t like me.”
“Utterly untrue,” Subaru said. “Seishirou likes you quite a bit. The problem is that he’s a very possessive man, and he guards his time with me very jealousy. Given that neither of us thought we’d ever get this far, I suppose it’s forgivable. He likes you; he just doesn’t like how much time I spend with you. He also says, correctly, that I’m placing myself in danger by being a Seal. Which is true.”
“Oh, I meant to ask you something,” Kamui said. “I told you about how I saw Hinoto and she showed me . . . that thing with my mother . . . well, at the end of it, I met somebody. It’s the person that . . . that interfered when Fuuma was . . . was going to kill me.” His voice trembled a little, then steadied. “He said his name was Kakyou and he had these huge golden eyes . . . and he said to tell you not to worry, he won’t work for the Angels, and that your neesan says hello.”
“Oh, good,” Subaru said. “I was wondering about that.”
“Is he your sister’s boyfriend?” Kamui asked. “He’s an Angel?”
Subaru nodded, then paused. “Was.”
“This is getting twisted,” Kamui said.
Subaru raised an eyebrow. “Getting twisted? I was under the impression that it already was.”
Kamui laughed. He looked like he was about to speak further when a blonde boy who oozed genkiness rounded the corner. “Shirou-kun!!”
They both looked over. “Ohayo, Segawa,” Kamui said, without much enthusiasm.
“Oh, are you having a lesson?” the other boy turned pink.
“Not really,” Kamui said. “Just talking to a friend. Segawa, this is Sumeragi Subaru. Subaru, Segawa Keichii.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Subaru said, and it was. He was pleased that Kamui was making friends.
“I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch together,” Keichii said with a grin.
Kamui looked uncertainly at Subaru, who smiled reassuringly. “Go on. Make friends, for crying out loud.”
Kamui nodded. “Thanks, Subaru. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Subaru waved as Kamui and Keichii walked off together. A few minutes later, the ground started to shake. He quickly got out of the gazebo, not sure it would stay standing, but the earthquake was a mild one. More Angels at work, he thought absently, and he wondered what Seishirou was doing.
****
It really was only a matter of time, Subaru reflected as he came around a corner and found himself face to face with Fuuma. His walk from CLAMP campus to home was the same every day. Anyone with any interest in catching up with him wouldn’t have a problem doing so. Subaru mumbled an apology for nearly walking into the young man and stepped aside.
“Oh, don’t go,” Fuuma said with a smile that made Subaru’s skin crawl. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“Sorry,” Subaru said. “I have better things to do.” He lit up a cigarette and began to walk a little quicker than before.
Fuuma turned and walked next to him. “How’s Kamui doing?” His voice was innocent, holding just a bit of sarcasm.
“Fine, no thanks to you.” Subaru’s words were clipped and short. He was looking around for a place to hide, and not seeing one. “What do you want?”
“Oh, just to talk,” Fuuma said cheerfully. “I heard you were having family trouble.”
“I have no family,” Subaru said. His voice was quiet and calm.
“Really? What a pity,” Fuuma said. “I don’t either, you know.”
“I know,” Subaru said shortly.
“Would you want your family back, if you could have it?”
“Depends,” Subaru said sharply, “on what I would have to give up to get it.”
Fuuma smirked. “Do you ever stop thinking about that assassin of yours?”
Subaru stopped and faced him. “Why should I? That’s what this conversation is about. That’s what it’s been about from the beginning. I hardly think you care about my family. Now what do you want with me?”
“I’m just curious,” Fuuma said, “about what your bizarre attachment to him is.”
“I love him,” Subaru said simply. “You already knew that.”
Fuuma shrugged. “Not like that means anything. You don’t belong with him. Funny, in that whole conversation about Kamui’s Wish . . . you never mentioned what your Wish is.” Fuuma smiled beatifically. “So what is your Wish, Subaru-kun?”
Subaru flinched away from the suffix. “That Seishirou and I would stop being harassed by you,” he snapped.
“Is it really?” Fuuma’s smile widened. “Maybe losing your family doesn’t bother you, but the principle of it does. You don’t see why they can’t accept you and Seishirou. That bothers you, doesn’t it? That . . . hurts you. Your Wish . . . is it that you and Seishirou would truly belong together?” He tilted his head, looking at the Sumeragi curiously. “Or is it that you had never fallen in love with him to begin with?”
Subaru said nothing, simply met Fuuma’s gaze evenly.
“Quite a bit to deal with as a sixteen year old,” Fuuma said seriously. “To be in love with someone you hate. I wonder, Subaru-kun . . . how well did you ever forgive him?”
Subaru looked at him for a long moment, then said, “What are you hoping to accomplish by this?”
Fuuma just smiled.
“Seishirou and I don’t belong together,” Subaru said quietly. “I knew that from the first minute I moved in with him. Before that. But it doesn’t stop the fact that we do love each other. That’s something no one can take away from us -- not my grandmother, and especially not you. If you want to continue this ridiculous game of trying to break us apart, be my guest. I don’t care. Because it won’t work.”
With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.
“Pity about Kakyou,” Fuuma called after him.
Subaru’s steps halted. He turned slowly. “What would you know about it?”
“Not much, really . . . that you happened to be his last visitor, but nobody wanted to accuse the Head of the Sumeragi of murder . . . wonder what they’d do now that you’re no longer the Head, if it was brought to their attention again?”
“It has nothing to do with you,” Subaru said coldly.
“You, single-handedly, have deprived me of two of my Angels,” Fuuma said. “This has everything to do with me.”
“Kakyou wanted to die,” Subaru said flatly. “He never would have made it to 1999, anyway.”
“You don’t know that for a fact,” Fuuma said. “And neither do I.”
“No,” Subaru said. “But he wouldn’t have helped you.”
“So it’s no wonder that you and Seishirou get along so well,” Fuuma said, grinning. “You’re both murderers, after all.”
Subaru stiffened. “I’d prefer to think of it as assissted suicide. Thanks.”
“Think of it however you want, Subaru-kun,” Fuuma said. “That doesn’t change the facts.”
“I never wanted them changed,” Subaru said, and again turned to go.
“I’ll be seeing you,” Fuuma called.
****
“You look like you have an idea.” Kanoe’s voice echoed in the huge room. She looked at Fuuma, who was looking absently down at Nataku, who was sitting at his feet.
“Not really. I was just talking to Kazuki here.”
Nataku smiled, looking up at Fuuma with enchanted eyes.
Kanoe suppressed a shudder.
“If anyone needs us,” Fuuma said, standing up and resting a hand on Nataku’s shoulder, “we’ll be at the Sunshine 60.”
****