X/1999 Fan Fiction ❯ Ten Reasons to Love Somebody ❯ Object ( Chapter 5 )

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

 

Ten Reasons to Love Somebody

 

V. Object

 

Five o'clock sharp: she had made that very clear on the phone. They were to meet at Sunshine 60 for an early dinner, but also so that they might discuss various family matters she deemed to be pressing. Glancing at his watch, Subaru forced down the impulse to pace nervously in front of the behemoth building. It was 5:15, and his grandmother was nowhere in sight.

 

She was never late; on the contrary, she would arrive well in advance so that when he came, she took enjoyment at chastising him for keeping her waiting—one of many things he was scolded for whenever they met. But as unpleasant as their meetings were, Subaru was growing genuinely concerned, almost to the extent that he considered running all the way back to his apartment to check his home messages.

 

Maybe she rescheduled, or maybe she called to say that she would be late, or maybe they were to meet at a different place; each new possibility heightened his anxiety. He stared back down at his watch; now it was 5:16.

 

“You can't make the time flow any differently that way—I've tried,” remarked an entertained voice.

 

He jumped in spite of himself, and then cringed; on top of his present dilemma, the last thing that he needed was Seishirou's company. He kept silent in the desperate hope that if he ignored him, Seishirou might lose interest and go away.

 

But he already knew that this was not how fate would have it.

 

“What a lovely coincidence it is that I should run into my Subaru-kun. Tell me, what brings you to Ikebukuro?”

 

Subaru deliberately kept his eyes fixed forward. “That's none of your business, Seishirou-san.”

 

Unperturbed by his prey's detachment, Seishirou circled him to detect every change in him since their last encounter. As much as Subaru strived to maintain his collected demeanor, he could not help fidgeting as Seishirou studied him. Behind those sunglasses he could feel that eye cornering him like a starved predator, or worse, that he was being undressed in that long gaze.

 

He lifted his own eyes to meet Seishirou's. “What are you doing?” he demanded.

 

He smirked back. It was adorable how hard the Sumeragi had tried to block him out. “Looking at you,” he replied blatantly. “I'm allowed to look, aren't I?”

 

“No, you aren't,” hissed Subaru. “You were dissecting me behind those damn sunglasses.”

 

The smirk widened, and he removed the despised eyewear. “My apologies for my manners, then. I would hate to make my Subaru-kun uncomfortable,” he declared ingenuously. As he spoke, he snatched Subaru's hand, as if to kiss it.

 

Subaru's gaze hardened, and he jerked back his wrist. Seishirou merely chuckled back as he exhaled in exasperation. Subaru crossed his arms. “Now what is it?”

 

He shrugged. “I was just realizing how you're becoming more beautiful each time that I see you. I notice that you're growing your hair out; I like it.” He reached for one of those soft strands of raven hair that fell past the Sumeragi's ear.

 

Subaru swatted the hand away. “I haven't had it cut yet, and besides, it's none of—”

 

“None of my business,” Seishirou finished. He feigned a pout. “But I do hope that you continue to grow it out. You look more adorable with it longer.”

 

Subaru made a face. “Don't call me adorable, Seishirou-san. I'm not some—” He was cut short when he felt hands roving over his waist.

 

“This, however, has not changed,” lamented Seishirou. He savored one of Subaru's indignant gasps when he pressed his fingers against his ribcage. “You still haven't learned to eat properly, Subaru-kun. Perhaps I should teach you?”

 

“I'm eating just fine,” he lied. Seishirou gave him an incredulous look, and squeezed at his waist again. “St-stop doing that!”

 

“Perhaps I will if you agree to go to dinner with me.”

 

Subaru squirmed against him. “I'm meeting someone here for dinner. Someone important, Seishirou-san,” he replied hoping that Seishirou would catch the hint and leave.

 

Seishirou pulled him closer, finally making him redden in the public setting outside Sunshine 60. “But it appears to me that this important person has left you waiting. Am I right?” Subaru said nothing, but shot him an icy glare. “Yet if you are so intent on keeping your dinner plans, how about a quick detour for ice cream?”

 

“I'd rather not…” he hastily answered.

 

Seishirou shrugged. “That's too bad. But it's the least I can do to wait with you, then, until your guest arrives. I wouldn't want anything to happen while you waited alone.”

 

Subaru paled. It was mortifying to consider what would happen when his grandmother finally did show up, only to find her grandson in the company of the Sakurazukamori. He gave in. “Alright. Ice cream. Only ice cream…just…not here.”

 

Seishirou smirked, and began to guide his prey down the street by the waist. “A block from here there is a wonderful ice cream shop.”

 

Subaru kept his eyes on the sidewalk, and did his best to stifle down the hot blush over his face under the familiar, dirty stares of passer-bys. He was grateful that Seishirou behaved with him this time. Only once did he loudly mutter that people who did not mind their own affairs ought to do it in hell after the word `perverts' floated around. After that, he held Subaru's waist even more tightly, satisfied that the Sumeragi had given up struggling.

 

What's really perverted, thought Subaru, is that I'm getting used to this. Seishirou's arms were always so warm, and that was what disgusted him; he was taking comfort in being paraded around as a mere plaything to this man.

 

Seishirou opened the door to the brightly lit store and motioned for him to step inside.

 

Subaru was relieved to be free of his firm hold, but this was short-lived. The moment that Seishirou followed him inside, he laced his fingers with Subaru's. The Sumeragi tried to shift away. It was one thing to do this on a crowded street at night, but in a store where children were present?

 

“What is the matter, Subaru-kun?” asked Seishirou while petting the back of his hand. “You certainly didn't mind me when I slept—” Subaru efficiently silenced the assassin by giving him a hard kick in the shin.

 

He was going to be damned if Seishirou humiliated him with the same line again.

 

Seishirou winced, but held fast onto Subaru's slender hand. Despite the surprising shock of pain, he smiled back; his prey was becoming even more delightfully unpredictable. He laughed at Subaru's cute glare. “Ah. That's right, Subaru-kun. The ice cream.” He led the irritated onmyouji to the front counter with his best effort not to limp.

 

The boy at the register nervously greeted them. “Um, hello…what can I get for you?”

 

“Subaru-kun?” he prompted.

 

Subaru hesitated. “Uh, just a scoop of vanilla.”

 

Seishirou sighed. Vanilla, plain vanilla: well, it was better than Subaru asking only for green tea again. “As for me—I'll have a chocolate sundae with whipped cream and an extra cherry,” he added with a wink at the Sumeragi. At that instant, Subaru wondered how much extra he would have to pay to get them to add cyanide to that sundae.

 

When they got their ice cream, he frowned to see that the only seats that were open were the tables. As he feared, when he slipped onto the long cushion of one of the booths, Seishirou sat close beside him.

 

“You should eat that quickly before it melts,” advised Seishirou while beginning to decimate his own sundae.

 

Subaru glowered and unenthusiastically flicked his tongue over the ice cream cone, but nearly choked on it when he noticed the other man's leg intimately brushing up against his. He knew it was no accident.

 

“Is there something wrong, Subaru-kun?” asked Seishirou as he suggestively licked the chocolate syrup from his lips.

 

Subaru jumped again as Seishirou laid a hand over his thigh. “Don't do that,” he demanded.

 

“Do what? This?” He hooked his leg around Subaru's. “Or this?” he queried, placing his hand higher up on the thigh and pinching him.

 

A sharp gasp escaped Subaru. “I-I said, stop it!” He slapped away the offending hand, but blushed upon noticing how he had caught the attention of everyone nearby. He sunk down in his seat.

 

“Now Subaru-kun, you don't want to give the children here any naughty ideas,” teased Seishirou.

 

Subaru began to say something, but thought better of it. Instead, he angrily bit into his ice cream, knowing that the sooner he finished, the sooner he could leave and return to Sunshine 60.

 

Seishirou watched him devour the treat with interest. “Just as I thought, you were hungry. Or are you just exceptionally fond of vanilla ice cream, Subaru-kun?”

 

Subaru averted his eyes with disdain. There was no doubt that everything Seishirou was saying was laced with innuendo. “Perhaps it's just the company that I'm eager to escape, Seishirou-san,” he growled back.

 

“Maybe,” relented Seishirou. “But then I would have to wonder why you agreed to come in the first place.”

 

Because you gave me no other choice. Subaru had wanted to say that, but before the words could come out, he questioned if it were really true. After all, it had been his decision to follow Seishirou in the first place; he had never been coerced into anything. In his confusion, he kept silent.

 

Seishirou chuckled at this victory over the Sumeragi. “Yet regardless of your reasons, Subaru-kun, you really do seem famished. Of course, I can't blame you; after spending so much time with your Kamui without ever a bite to eat it is inevitable that you would be starving.”

 

Subaru looked up from his ice cream. “And how often do you spy on us to know how much time I spend with him? You wouldn't…happen to be jealous, Seishirou-san?”

 

“Of course not,” he answered a little too quickly, thereby peaking Subaru's interest. He paused thoughtfully. “How can I be jealous of what already belongs to me?” He pulled the Sumeragi into his arms.

 

Subaru struggled and shot daggers at him. “I am not…an object.”

 

“We've been through this,” sighed Seishirou. “No matter what you say or do, no matter what happens, you are mine.” He jerked up Subaru's chin. “Mine to play with, my adorable, little Subaru-kun.” He leaned forward to kiss him over the mouth, but Subaru would not allow this. He thrust what remained of his ice cream into Seishirou's face, pushed him away, and climbed over the table while the other man was still caught by surprise.

 

Subaru clenched his fists. “You might not see the difference between objects and people, Seishirou-san, but I do!” He screamed before storming out of the store, disregarding all the stares and murmurs.

 

When he burst from the door, the streetlights were blurry and bright in his eyes. His vision was clouded by pools of tears. He did not know why he had such a sudden urge to cry. He thought he had finished crying years ago; he thought he had closed his heart so that nothing anyone said could hurt him.

 

But around Seishirou he felt everything that he shouldn't and wanted everything that he shouldn't. Every time they met, Subaru wanted to destroy Seishirou in his heart. He no longer wished to feel anything but hate for this man. But hate was only a small piece of all the emotion Seishirou instilled in him. He now knew that he could never be free of the Sakurazukamori.

 

He slipped into a deserted alley to wipe away his tears. He buried his head against his knees, and wanted to block out the rest of the world as he desperately fought to regain control of his emotions. However, this was difficult once Subaru noticed a shadow standing over him.

 

Instantly recognizing Seishirou's form, he jumped to his feet and tried to hide all evidence of his tears.

 

Seishirou tried to approach him. “Subaru-kun.”

 

Before he could step any closer, Subaru slapped him across the face.

 

Seishirou flinched. “I suppose you think I deserved that.”

 

Subaru smacked him again.

 

He staggered back. “And that.” Subaru stepped forward to slap him a third time, but he caught the Sumeragi's wrist. “Enough.”

 

He pinned Subaru's wrist along with his other arm against the nearest wall, and grabbed his waist. Subaru had attempted to say something in protest, but he silenced him with a kiss. With anger, with surprise, and with relief, Subaru leaned against Seishirou's warm mouth. He kissed him back, at first tentatively and unsure of himself, but then just as forcefully as Seishirou had.

 

When they broke away, Seishirou rested his forehead against Subaru's. “You know that ordinary objects cannot kiss back.”

 

Subaru blinked, not entirely certain if Seishirou meant to comfort or insult him. Before he could ponder it any further, however, he instinctively jumped as Seishirou began to lay kisses over his neck. He threw his head back against the wall and bit his lower lip to prevent himself from satisfying Seishirou with the moan he held in. Yet the other man chuckled derisively at his prey's efforts and dipped his hand lower beneath the layers of clothing.

 

Subaru let out a horrified cry at feeling Seishirou's cold hand stroking his tailbone. “Seishirou-san!” he shouted viciously. Subaru wriggled and squirmed against him with abandon, but only succeeded in inadvertently pushing the hand deeper.

 

Seishirou leered. “So there is a place where my Subaru-kun is warm.”

 

He lividly blushed back. “Don't…you…dare.” But his warning went ignored, and Subaru squeaked with a high-pitched moan as Seishirou squeezed.

 

“You are so cute, Subaru-kun,” he laughed.

 

Against his better judgment, Subaru allowed his lips to be ravished once more. He knew that it was a kiss vacant of any comfort, but something hungry and carnal instead. Seishirou was only playing with him, trying to degrade him by twisting his emotions and dominating him. Half of him was screaming for him to break free, while the other half that was in control realized how good it felt to be kissed and touched, even if it was Seishirou.

 

Especially if it was Seishirou.

 

All of the sudden, he sensed the wall against him crumbling, and Seishirou ceased to kiss him. Subaru opened his eyes, and his breath skipped when he saw the large crack a psychic blow had dealt to the wall.

 

“Let him go!” screamed Kamui.

 

The blood drained from his face when he saw Sorata standing alongside the boy. “That's right, or else the next attack won't miss, Sakurazukamori!”

Seishirou grinned at him. “I suppose I'll play with you another time, Subaru-kun.”

 

Subaru regained his senses at these cold, cruel words, and moaned with displeasure as Seishirou gave him a parting kiss before dissolving into a storm of sakura. He stared at the pink buds, his eyes filling with shame. He really was no more than a plaything.

 

When he no longer felt the weight of Seishirou's arms holding him up, Subaru slumped to the ground. His emeralds were already welling up with bitter tears.

 

Kamui was the first to run over to him. “Subaru! Subaru, are you alright!?”

 

“Hey now,” began Sorata, noticing that he was on verge of tears. “It's over now. You're with us; everything's gonna be okay.”

 

“Subaru-san!” shouted a strident voice.

 

Subaru looked up with mortification to find his grandmother being wheeled up to him. Oh dear God, no… She had been there, too. She had seen what had happened. He turned a shade of burgundy while fighting back his tears. She took in his expression with her piercing eyes, seeing every truth of the situation that escaped the others. Her bottom lip was twitching in fury.

 

“O-Obaa-chan,” he whispered. No sooner had he spoken her name did he feel her hand strike him. Without a single word for him, she motioned for her handmaiden to wheel her away.

 

Tears poured down his face as his head rang with agony. “Obaa-chan!” he pleaded.

 

She halted her departure, but did not bother to even turn around and look at him. “I will not remain here and watch my grandson become a whore to that man.”

 

Subaru watched her vanish from his sight and buried his head with an anguished sob. Around him, he could hear Kamui and Sorata trying to comfort him and bring him to his feet, and he could still feel the pain of his grandmother's blow. But all of this meant little. As his face became soaked with cold tears, he could only think of Seishirou—of his cruel grin, those deceiving kisses, and the fading scent of sakura.