X/1999 Fan Fiction ❯ Ten Reasons to Love Somebody ❯ Change ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: If X/1999 and TB were mine, I wouldn't have all those restraining orders from CLAMP…

 

Hello, everyone! Ah, my first fic on mediaminer. For those who know me from my works on ffnet, I'm Kyou-chan!! Author of many strange X/1999 and TB tales, and a SxS-shipper. This here is my favorite work that was taken down sometime ago from ffnet. However, so many people were kind enough to badger me to repost this that I had to! Many thanks to one SeriousSiriusFan for suggesting MediaMiner!! And thanks to everyone who's reading right now! You give me the warm fuzzies!

 

-Kyou-chan

 

Ten Reasons to Love Somebody

 

I. Change

 

A breeze brushed the soft flowers and buds of Sakura adrift in the morning radiance. The air was crisp and chilly as the blanket of clouds lazily refused to give way to the prying sunshine.

 

This did not stop the usual crowds of morning joggers and elderly couples from filtering into Ueno Park. There was quiet and tranquility within its threshold; at morning, it was a sanctuary from the jarring sights and sounds of Tokyo.

 

Yet there was one corner of the park where few would dare to venture. Within the rosy shade of the Sakura groves, it looked no different from the rest of the area. On the contrary, some would say that this forbidden spot was the most beautiful place of the park, but there had been rumors of spirits crying out as the wind hissed through the Sakura tree's gnarled limbs.

 

It was 1999, a time when superstition meant little, but with the strange series of earthquakes plaguing the city, no one would be taking chances.

 

Sakurazuka Seishirou, however, had nothing to fear from the tree as he sat across from it on a weathered bench. He casually sipped from a warm cup of coffee. Black—no sugar and no cream: it was just the way he liked it.

 

Across his face was a pleasant smile devoid of any cumbersome emotions as he soaked in the peace and charm of this particular morning. It was almost a shame that it would be one of the last this city was to see.

 

He drained the last of his coffee while gazing at the Sakura petals dancing in the wind. The tree appeared to echo his delight as the sound of light footsteps padded over to him.

 

He had felt his prey's timid presence crossing into the park minutes ago, and so without bothering to turn his eyes, he spoke first. “Good morning, Subaru-kun.”

 

The footsteps slowed, but uncertainly kept their approach until he felt Subaru's thin shadow over him.

 

A terse silence lingered, which Seishirou deliberately ignored. “What brings you here on such a lovely morning?”

 

“You know why I'm here,” was the icy reply.

 

Seishirou decided to toy with him. “I'm afraid I don't. Did you want me to play with you?”

 

No doubt this answer would have taken the younger Subaru by surprise, and he almost expected him to respond with an embarrassed stammer. Almost. Their last meeting at Nakano had proven that Subaru had matured from the naïve teenager that he once was.

 

He was nevertheless still adorable. Seishirou glanced over his shoulder, drinking in the sight of his prey in the morning light. Green eyes glared back, and a frown creased itself over Subaru's beautiful expression.

 

Seishirou held back a laugh; the Sumeragi was especially cute when annoyed.

 

Subaru clenched the ofuda in his coat pocket. “You ran away the last time. We have unfinished business.”

 

Seishirou nonchalantly crushed the empty coffee cup. “Ran away? I thought I was doing you a favor. After you were wounded, you were in no condition for such excitement. Besides, you couldn't have come here only for a fight. It's a nice morning; it would be distasteful to stain it with blood.”

 

Subaru glowered at the other man's belittling smile. “Whatever you call it, we still have a fight to finish. If I did not come here for that, then why would I bother seeking you out in the first place?”

 

Seishirou winked back at him. “Perhaps you wanted someone to keep you warm?”

 

“Go to hell,” hissed Subaru.

 

He laughed. Such coarse words were clumsy and awkward on Subaru's soft voice. He was unsuited to swear.

 

“Why won't you fight me!?” growled Subaru, whose patience was swiftly waning.

 

“Because,” he said blatantly. “If that's what you really wanted, you would have attacked me by now.”

 

Subaru did not reply. How could Seishirou calmly assume what he did and did not want!? He wanted to raise his kekkai right then so he could erase that irritating smirk. However, moments passed and he found that he could not bring himself to do it.

 

He wanted to curse himself as he replaced his ofuda back into his pocket. “It is,” he began slowly to justify his weakness, “…a nice morning. There would be no point in wasting it on you.” He turned away with every intention of leaving with as much dignity he could salvage.

 

Seishirou was not about to allow that. “And I thought you might have wanted to talk.”

 

He turned back around. “What would I have to talk about with you?”

 

“It's been nine years. I'm sure we have plenty of catching up to do,” he suggested. Then to exasperate him even further, he motioned to a spot beside him on the bench. “Why don't you sit down?” he offered politely.

 

Subaru remained standing at a guarded distance, clearly puzzled by his proposition. He knew that he should have left and been done with him, but years of training to remain polite, even to those who deserved nothing, was etched deep into him.

 

It was the last thing he wanted to stay and talk to this man, but at the same time, it was the last thing he expected to find himself unable to walk away.

 

He shifted uncomfortably in his footsteps, but lit a cigarette, indicating that he meant to stay.

 

Seishirou enjoyed watching every stage of the Sumeragi's confusion, and was now simply entertained by observing him. He eagerly scanned Subaru up and down, relishing the little details and changes about him that few would bother to notice.

 

His wardrobe was simple, but elegant like everything he had worn, even though it did not escape Seishirou how loosely the clothing fit about the middle. Subaru was starving himself; even in the sunlight he was pale and delicate.

 

Despite this, his eyes were still large and bright, although they were mature with years of refinement. There was emotion in those eyes—always there was emotion, and this made him alluring after all this time.

 

Subaru fidgeted under his intrigued eye, not at all happy to be dissected by his nemesis. “Seishirou-san,” he admonished, “It's rude to stare.”

 

“It is also rude to smoke in front of someone, Subaru-kun,” he retorted.

 

Subaru took a deep breath, and savored the tobacco as it flooded into his lungs. “You don't care.”

 

He chuckled at the cold reply, and reached into his own pocket for a cigarette. He was mildly surprised, however, when he found none in the empty package.

 

Subaru had been watching, pretending to be indifferent, but with every breath of smoke a feeling of guilt prickled at him. He shifted under Seishirou's patient stare until he let out a reluctant sigh. He searched his pockets for another cigarette only to discover that he, too, was out.

 

He suddenly felt a lot worse holding that lit cigarette, and glanced between it and Seishirou. Inwardly cringing at his manners, he took a long drag of smoke and then grudgingly offered it to the other man.

 

“How kind of you, Subaru-kun.”

 

He shot daggers at him. “Forget it. I've changed my mind.” He began to pull his hand back, but his wrist was caught in a firm grip. His fingers quivered as he felt Seishirou's intertwining with them around the cigarette. He indignantly tried to break away while his pulse quickened at the contact.

 

Seishirou smiled and stroked his hand. “You're cold, Subaru-kun,” he remarked. He lowered his mouth just below those soft fingertips and inhaled the cigarette. Subaru stifled a noise of protest against his warm breath as he exhaled with gratification over their interlocked hands. “Is that better?”

 

Seishirou looked at him curiously, challenging him to remain composed in spite of his obvious discomfort. Knowing that he could not back away, Subaru stared back into his sunglasses. His hand still captured, he awkwardly sat down next to him, brought his lips over the cigarette and briefly inhaled.

 

He could not be timid and shy around this man anymore; he had to prove that he had changed—that he was not afraid even though his stomach somersaulted to be this close to Seishirou. He exhaled the smoke with relief of this difficult accomplishment.

 

Seishirou looked unimpressed and breathed from the cigarette once again. “So tell me, Subaru-kun. How are your studies at CLAMP Academy coming?”

 

He did not let this piece of knowledge faze him; by now, Subaru knew that he was never alone when he thought himself to be. “I don't bother,” he answered before hesitantly taking his turn to inhale the smoke.

 

“Oh? I seem to remember that you once tried very hard in school.” He paused, reading Subaru's frown. He was encroaching on a sensitive spot. “What was it that you wanted to be, Subaru-kun?”

 

“A zookeeper,” he replied venomously. Subaru knew that he had not forgotten this, and was only trying to have the satisfaction of hurting him further. He would not let that happen.

 

“Ah, that's right. A zookeeper.” The dream sounded ridiculously childish as Seishirou spoke it. “Whatever happened to that?

 

Subaru looked him in the eye with no expression. “Things change, Seishirou-san.”

 

Seishirou wondered how long the Sumeragi could keep his composure. “Yes, I suppose some things do.” He lowered his lips over their fingers again, but intentionally pressed them against Subaru's skin instead of the cigarette.

 

A faint outline of the inverted pentagram seared to life on the pale hand, and Subaru bit his lower lip to keep himself from making any noise that would indicate that the motion stirred something within him.

 

Seishirou looked at him, disappointed not to see the scarlet blush he had meant to cause on the other's face, but saw that he was nonetheless flustered.

 

“And some things do not change, Subaru-kun.”

 

Subaru narrowed his jade eyes at him. “You're right. No matter how much time passes, a murderer will remain a murderer.”

 

He chuckled. “Probably.” Subaru's hand was becoming tense in his grip, but he had no desire to let him go. He took another puff of smoke, keeping his eyes level with his prey's. “But even so, Subaru-kun, change, or the lack thereof, can be rather pleasant.” He kissed the hand more forcefully to make his point. “Don't you think so?”

 

“Wh-what are you doing!?” he exclaimed as Seishirou suckled his fingertips.

 

“Delicious, Subaru-kun,” he whispered back seductively as he continued playing with the Sumeragi's hand.

 

Subaru's heartbeat rushed, and many of the old sensations he had fought so hard to rid himself of trickled back. A tortured cry escaped from him. “A-aaah! S-stop it…!” His face was on fire. “Stop it right now!”

 

He twisted and jerked his hand from him with all his strength, but it was a vain effort. Humiliating his prey this much gave Seishirou such immense pleasure that he would keep Subaru imprisoned with him forever if he could.

 

Unfortunately, he was not expecting a sharp pain on his face to follow that last kiss.

 

Breathless and vexed, Subaru slapped him. He was distracted by this long enough for the onmyouji break free from that iron hold.

 

He ran away before Seishirou could grasp everything that had happened. The Sakurazukamori tenderly caressed the side of his face, but broke into a spell of laughter.

 

His Subaru-kun, that polite, shy, reserved boy, had summoned the courage to actually strike him. It was so unexpected that he had let his guard drop, but it was well worth the amusement he found in the situation.

 

Still chuckling to himself, he picked up the still-lit cigarette from the strands of grass it had fallen to in Subaru's escape and inhaled vigorously.

 

He could still taste Subaru laced with the tobacco, and leaned back against the bench to appreciate the sweet, intoxicating taste.

 

“Maybe things do change,” he mused to himself, and he exhaled a silver veil of smoke.