An X fanfiction by Midorino Mizu
The drive north was mostly uneventful. Subaru and Kamui engaged in small talk, and studiously avoided discussing the situation they had left behind in Tokyo.
Even though a job wasnÕt really an escape, it was a duty; the two Seals unconsciously treated it as most people treated their vacations. Conversation was kept light, and Òwork,Ó was not discussed.
There was only one awkward moment, when Kamui asked Subaru when he learned how to drive.
A broken expression flitted across the SumeragiÕs face before he replied, and Kamui immediately regretted the question.
Subaru was his friend, after all. He had so few left, and he didnÕt want to hurt the ones he had.
It was painfully obvious that his question had brought back memories for the Sumeragi. The unhappy sort.
One of the things that had drawn the two of them to each other, in KamuiÕs opinion, was the fact that their memories were similarly tragic, and had served to mold them into the people they had become.
He turned his head to look out the window. The skies had darkened shortly after they had left the city, and it had begun to snow.
ÒIÕm sorry, Subaru-san,Ó Kamui said, leaning his forehead against the glass. ÒI shouldnÕt have asked you that.Ó
ÒNo, Kamui, itÕs all right. I learned,Ó Subaru continued, Òwhen I was seventeen, so that I could get a license when I turned eighteen. I had to take on all of the Clan Head duties then, and needed a flexible method of transportation.
ÒI stayed in Tokyo, for the most part, though, so I donÕt use the skill very often. Just for jobs like these, that are in fairly remote locations,Ó Subaru finished with a small smile.
ÒI see,Ó said Kamui. He smiled a little, and turned his head to look at Subaru. ÒCars arenÕt terribly useful in the cities; they werenÕt even that widespread in Okinawa. Everyone had motorcycles, instead.
ÒI wanted one, when I first moved there with my mother. I think she was horrified by the idea.Ó
Subaru chuckled softly, and KamuiÕs shoulders sagged a little from relief. He didnÕt talk much about his six years in Okinawa, because the memories of those years were in some ways as painful as the memory of his years in Tokyo. He spoke, because heÕd hoped that his story might loosen the tight atmosphere.
It appeared to have been a success.
The remainder of the drive passed in companionable silence. The only sounds were the rumble of the engine and the muted murmur of the voices on the radio.
The carÕs occupants were perfectly content with that.
***
Morioka was far from Tokyo, a long drive of winding roads, and as a result, it was twilight by the time they arrived at the small shrine outside the city.
Kamui had caught Subaru casting wary glances at something in the rearview mirror several times, but whenever he glanced back himself, he never saw anything unusual.
By the time they arrived at the well-kept shrine, Kamui was on the verge of asking his older friend, but instead had to try to be polite and charming to the elderly priestess who met them at the gates.
Funabashi Katsuko was tall for a Japanese woman, and still slim, despite her age. She had sharp, shrewd gray eyes, and reminded Kamui of nothing else so much as an active grandmother. The sort that didnÕt necessarily shower you with gifts and attention, but who you liked all the same.
Not that Kamui had any experience with an extended family of any sort; he barely had experience with family at all.
But he liked to imagine.
ÒAh, Sumeragi-san,Ó said Funabashi-san in a gravelly voice. ÒI am glad you could come up to help me with this problem; it has been a bit of a nuisance lately.Ó
ÒIt was no trouble, Funabashi-san,Ó returned Subaru smoothly. ÒNow, if you could show meÉÓ he began.
ÒAbsolutely not,Ó the priestess interrupted. Subaru blinked at her, and Kamui decided he really was starting to like Funabashi Katsuko. Very few people tried to delay the Sumeragi when he was set on completing a task.
There was something about that quiet, unassuming personality that made people leap to do his bidding, it seemed.
ÒI canÕt allow you to do anything tonight; not after such a long trip. You can do it in the morning.
ÒMeanwhile,Ó she added with a smile. ÒDinner is getting cold, and IÕm sure your companion is getting hungry.Ó She shifted her gaze to Kamui, and he realized he hadnÕt bothered to introduce himself yet.
ÒShirou Kamui,Ó he said a little gruffly, ducking his head to hide his blush. He hated it when he embarrassed himself.
ÒAh,Ó said Katsuko. ÒIt is a pleasure to meet you, Shirou-kun. WonÕt you both come inside?Ó
The house, thought Kamui as he trailed after Funabashi-san and Subaru, was small and traditional on the inside as well, but it had a warm, lived in feeling.
Kamui liked it.
ÒIt would be helpful, Funabashi-san,Ó Subaru was saying, ÒIf you could explain a little more about the nature of the problem. Even if IÕm not to work on it tonightÉÓ This was said with a rather pointed look. ÒI will need more information so I can prepare.Ó
Funabashi Katsuko chuckled at that. ÒNaturally, Subaru-san,Ó she said with an amused shake of her head. ÒAnd we will discuss it over dinner. DonÕt be impatient,Ó she advised.
Katsuko gave the Sumeragi a critical sidelong glance and shook her head at him. ÒAnd you certainly could use a good dinner,Ó she complained. ÒYou look even slimmer than you did as a teenager. And Shirou-kun is nearly as bad,Ó she added, pinning Kamui with a cool gray stare. ÒHonestly, donÕt people eat in Tokyo?Ó
Kamui shrugged helplessly and shoved down the amused grin that threatened to break through. The entire situation was incredibly funny, in his opinion; he hadnÕt ever met anyone who had dared to harangue Subaru like a worried mother before.
He didnÕt think that Subaru had dealt with anyone like this, either; at least not for many years now.
The Sumeragi had been reduced to quiet sighs and nods now, Kamui noticed. The older woman was completely dominating the conversation.
It wasnÕt surprising, really. Subaru wasnÕt the type to contradict someone from an earlier generation, if they didnÕt initially accept his dictates. With an assertive woman like Funabashi Katsuko, he was relegated to a more passive position.
It was likely his upbringing by his matriarch of a grandmother that caused this, Kamui thought. Respect for elders was probably an irrevocable part of the SumeragiÕs personality.
Kamui smirked a little as he crossed the threshold into the dining area. That wasnÕt something his mother had ever bothered to drum into him. She hadnÕt taken the time for such innocuous lessons as that.
There were more important things to learn.
A shiver suddenly ran down KamuiÕs spine and he froze where he stood, narrowing his violet eyes. He looked behind him, but he saw nothing. Only the hallway they had just walked through, and a window.
Still, he could feel something watching them, and it felt familiar.
ÒIs something the matter, Shirou-kun?Ó asked Funabashi-san. She gave him an expectant look, and he wondered just how long he had been standing there.
ÒAh, no,Ó he said. ÒI must have beenÉthinking.Ó
Funabashi-san wrinkled her brow, and opened her mouth to interrogate the teenager, when Subaru forestalled her with a hand on her arm.
ÒDonÕt worry about it, Funabashi-san,Ó he said with a quiet smile. ÒKamui tends to do that kind of thing, sometimes. It is of no matter.Ó
When SubaruÕs cool green eyes met KamuiÕs violet ones, they were calm, quiet, and watchful, and Kamui suddenly knew what was behind the watching he felt.
Sakurazukamori.
He and the Sumeragi would have to have a discussion about this, Kamui thought. But not now.
Later.
***
Dinner was a fairly painless affair. Both Subaru and Kamui were fairly quiet during the entire thing, and Funabashi-san had filled in the silence with her own words for a while, before allowing her guests to retire for the evening, in their separate rooms.
Kamui waited fifteen minutes before knocking on SubaruÕs door. He thought he showed excellent restraint.
Subaru looked up when the door slid open. ÒI expected you ten minutes ago,Ó he said dryly. ÒYou must be becoming more patient.Ó
Kamui didnÕt answer the other Seal, instead staring him down with cold purple eyes.
Subaru sighed. ÒSit down, Kamui. IÕm sure you have a couple of questions.Ó He put away the ofuda he had been working with and met the teenagerÕs gaze. ÒPlease understand that I only kept silent because I didnÕt want you to get hurt.Ó
Kamui huffed out a breath and ran a slim hand through his unruly brown hair. ÒI know that, Subaru-san,Ó he said. ÒBut I need to know these things, and IÕm perfectly capable of handling the Sakurazukamori.Ó
His eyes were not so cold any longer, and his lips twitched in something that was almost a smile. ÒI have done so before, you know.Ó
Subaru smiled ruefully. ÒI know, Kamui,Ó he said. ÒBut I still want to protect you from him, if possible.
ÒHe is very cruel,Ó Subaru continued. ÒI know that youÕve known crueltyÉbut Seishirou-sanÕs cruelty is subtle. It digs like small, sharp knives for years, and you donÕt deserve to be subjected to that.Ó
SubaruÕs eyes darkened, and he looked away.
Kamui probably understood what he was talking about better than anyone else could; he had seen what Seishirou had done to Subaru, after all, and he had experienced that kind of cataclysmic loss himself. But not even Kamui could fully understand what it had done to the Sumeragi.
The deliberate betrayal that he had experienced nine years before had done something to him; he was a vastly different person from the one he could have been.
Subaru wanted to protect Kamui from that. He wanted Kamui to be able to fully realize his own potential.
At the same time, Subaru thought with a slow, sad smile, KamuiÕs potential was already stunted by what Fate had determined he would be.
He finally broke the silence. ÒHe probably wonÕt do anything,Ó he said. ÒI doubt he will do anything. ItÕs unlikely,Ó Subaru stated with a bitter twist of his lips, Òthat Seishirou would ever do anything so inconvenient as travel to Morioka for the sake of the Seven Angels.
ÒHeÕs probably following me. Apparently IÕve become interesting again.Ó
Kamui nodded silently, then smiled. ÒStill,Ó he said. ÒWe should probably try to avoid problems, and get back to Tokyo as soon as we can. We have enough troubles there, without spreading them throughout the rest of Japan.Ó
The Sumeragi raised his eyebrows. It was a surprising reaction from the leader of the Seven Seals, and showed a depth and maturity that was incredibly rare in a fifteen-year-old.
But Kamui had had to grow up quickly in his life, and even more quickly in the past few months. He had had to make decisions that would have killed men twice his age.
It was easy to forget, sometimes, that Shirou Kamui was the furthest thing from ÒnormalÓ as a teenager could get.
ÒWe should be able to leave around ten,Ó Subaru answered. ÔFrom what I was told tonight, the job wonÕt take very long at all.Ó
ÒThatÕs good,Ó said Kamui. He smiled, and the curl of his lips was a trifle wicked. ÒBut IÕm sure Imonoyama-san will be disappointed.Ó
Subaru shook his head bemusedly. ÒPerhaps,Ó he said. ÒThen again, he might just take it as a challenge.Ó
Kamui snorted softly, and pulled himself to his feet. ÒThatÕs quite possible.Ó He smiled again, and this time, it was gentle, and almost sweet. ÒGoodnight, Subaru-san,Ó he said.
ÒGoodnight, Kamui,Ó said Subaru, before sliding the door shut, closing Kamui out of his room.
Kamui stood for a moment, gazing at the closed door, before turning around.
Directly across from SubaruÕs room was another door, this one leading to a garden. He could feel a familiar presence there.
ÒI wonder,Ó he murmured, as he walked across to the partially opened door, Òwhat it is you think you will accomplish, Sakurazuka-san. Whatever it is, I will make sure you fail. Subaru deserves a measure of peace.
ÒAnd you will not prevent him from getting it.Ó
A hawk screamed in the night, and Shirou Kamui smiled out into the darkness.
His violet eyes were like pools of ice.