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 Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:02 pm
Twilight had appeared, soft and grey and quiet. The star surrounding the Sakurazukamori glowed an eerie blue, producing it's own wind, before combining its lights together in a white hot, blazing dome, aiming to burn away and negate at any dark magic held within itself.
Subaru didn't expect it to work, nor did he particularly want it to. He felt the searing air as he waited, watching carefully for Seishirou's next move.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:27 pm
Seishirou doubted Subaru's shield was strong enough to contain his dark magic, but as a precaution, he attacked it first with something else. The spell he had been chanting wasn't one of dark magic. He launched the spell at the shield to make a wide opening. Then, he summoned stronger black magic cards then were probably necessary. He aimed them through the shield and directly at Subaru.
Although he never planned to do it, the desire to actually kill Subaru was rising slightly. He forced his way through the shield quickly, causing his clothing to burn a little and creating some small wounds on his hands and face.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:51 pm
Ready this time, Subaru deflected them easily with his own shield of ofuda, though carelessness allowed one to hit the arm the assassin had broken years before, the flesh sizzling as if burnt. Noticing the slightest of changes of Seishirou's deamenor, he couldn't help but smile just a little. Was he really succeeding in getting under Seishirou's skin?
It quickly faded, however, when he saw the wounds on Seishirou, and he had to bite his tongue to keep from saying something he'd regret. It bothered him greatly to see Seishirou hurt, especially knowing that he was the one that caused the wounds. In light of this, he stayed on the defense, refusing to attack until his opponent made a move first.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:29 pm
Seishirou wasn't even aware of the wounds on his body. He was focused too intently on Subaru. He charged with a sense of purpose at the young man. His hand almost positioned itself in that way in which he assassinated people; in the way he had killed Hokoto. He quickly remembered her last spell, and changed his fist to a non-lethal strike.
He was going to knock Subaru out of his defensive stance into a completely helpless one. He slammed his hands fiercely against Subaru's chest more than once, hearing small cracking noises as he did so. Even though he had meant not to kill Subaru, he meant to cause him a lot of pain.
Next, was the sound of Seishirou pinning Subaru against the sakura tree with a harsh, powerful slam. After his attacks, Seishirou was still extremely close to Subaru, holding him in place against the tree. His breathing had only become a little labored, showing that he was prepared to do much more damage if he needed to. Seishirou felt his entire body burn with a special energy that came from fighting Subaru and that came from the gloomy, but beautiful tree behind them. Yet after so many years of being able to control his expressions, Seishirou's face was an unreadable mask.
From bursting free from Subaru's shield, he had lost his shades and now both his eyes were visible. His healthy eye appeared as dead and cold as his blind one.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:46 pm
Such a charge was unexpected; Subaru's eyes widened in pain as Seishirou unleashed his fury, at first so shocked that he couldn't even move.
As Seishirou continued to pummel Subaru, the onmyouji closed his eyes, choosing to allow the attack rather than fight it. Every punch, he was sure, cracked a rib; a sharp, jagged feeling was filling his chest, a strange pooling sensation indicating internal bleeding. He let out a short breath with each instance of earth-shattering pain, but he allowed himself to relish it, to accept the injury without complaint. He deserved this. He wanted this.
When slammed against the tree, the trunk's rough bark scratched into him; the sheer strength with which he was forced back caused his back to crack with an alarming, electric shock, his eyes forced open with impact as his head jerked back. He let out a soft moan as the new pain settled over him like a blanket of pins, constant and pricking.
Rasping, panting for breath, Subaru let his head fall for a moment, biting his tongue as he tried to swallow past the lump in his throat. Was this how it was supposed to be? Suddenly, he was filled with an overwhelming thrill of trepidation. Lifting his head and staring into Seishirou's cold, unfeeing eyes, he felt a dull throbbing in his chest, his breath catch.
This is what he wanted, he realized. He wanted to make Seishirou angry, to be worthy of his anger, for Seishirou to kill him like he killed his sister, under this very cherry tree, the one under which he had been branded as prey. He hadn't fully recognized the desire until this moment, the need to know that he somehow mattered more than the leaves the Sakurazukamori crushed under his feet, and as the cuts he had acquired in battle bled freely, he continued to stare into Seishirou's eyes numbly, waiting, waiting so impatiently, for Seishirou to just finish it, to just give him one last blossoming explosion of pain and just finish him.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:13 pm
A strange thought entered Seishirou's mind at that moment. As he watched Subaru absorb the blows and the pain, and as he watched him slowly lose his motivation, Seishirou imagined that Subaru enjoyed being beaten by him. He would never guess that Subaru was actually longing to be killed.
He was amazed that Subaru was still conscious. He wanted him to be out cold so that he could resume his meaningless life without any obstacles coming from the young onmyouji. He knew this battle was over. He could easily flee at any moment, leaving Subaru breathless and confused.
But... he felt the need to say something. Seishirou almost never said what he wanted or what he was feeling, but at least he would say something, "Listen to me. I will continue my job no matter how you resist."
The destiny of the world depended on Seishirou's participation, but that wasn't really what he was concerned about at the moment. It was Subaru, who was such a strange, baffling person, that filled his thoughts. He removed his hands to allow Subaru to drop to the ground like a rag doll. Seishirou thought that if Subaru continued these reckless attacks, he might not live to see the future that was planned. Seishirou desperately wanted him to be alive for that moment...
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:31 pm
The world was slowly growing black, swallowing him up like a hungry monster, and a part of Subaru hoped it would be the last time. He knew better, though; these wounds weren't fatal, and would only knock him out temporarily. Nothing, unfortunately, would be permanent unless he was improperly cared for.
Letting out a soft moan, his head drooped down to his shoulder, his eyelids heavy. He rattled with every breath, feeling like an old dog waiting for an injection - or, in this case, the sakanagi of Seishirou's spells. Still, he too felt an irresistable urge to say something, and with a deep breath he managed:
"If you're going to continue your job, don't neglect it. You're the one who's resisting."
His hands burned as he said it, and somehow, as he slipped into darkness, he was sure the stars on the back of his hands were searing back into his flesh.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:54 pm
Subaru! His mind cried out. His eyes widened as he watched Subaru loose all his consciousness. What did he say? The words that fell from Subaru's beautiful lips were rolling around in his mind and confusing him wildly. Seishirou was afraid he was over analyzing them.
He quickly kneeled next to the young man and placed his hands on his chest to feel for the wounds. He knew Subaru needed a hospital's care. He quietly said his name without any honorifics or pretenses, "Subaru..."
His head bent down towards the younger man's and pulled his body closer to him. He didn't know what to do. Seishirou who was an unfeeling murderer couldn't find a way out of the conflict. He should have been running, but instead, he stayed by Subaru's side.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:27 pm
Subaru let out the softest of sighs as Seishirou pulled him close, still unconcious but his body going through the motions for him. His dreams were spinning out of control, mingling in with each other like a tapestry, the only thing connecting them the curtains of sakura blossoms floating around him like snow.
Hokuto, embracing his souless teenage form, crying, screaming, apologizing with all her might and promising to him that she would never allow him to die at the hands of the Sakurazukamori...
Seishirou, holding him close, whispering softly and assuring him that if Subaru were ever to choose to donate an organ, to give life, he would so, so proud of him...
Obaa-sama, telling him to stay put, she would be back from the municipal office soon, but his feet dragging him somewhere else, to the sakura tree in Ueno Park...
Seishirou, declaring him, nothing, no more than an object, a dog whose corpse would never matter, a pebble to be kicked around on the sidewalk...
"Sei...shi...rou..."
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:43 pm
"Yes?" He asked quickly, as if he expected Subaru to tell him what he wanted. I'm right here. He watched the bleeding wounds, and let them bleed because he was lost in a trance watching the young man.
He had know for a long time why he couldn't kill Subaru, and he was surprised to find that the reason was as true now as it had been all those years ago. He was still amazed when he thought about how his lovely mother who died happily by his hands was so right about something this important. He couldn't leave Subaru here, under this tree that would enjoy the blood seeping from his body.
Without an once of wasted strength, Seishirou picked Subaru up. He cradled him in his arms like a cherished companion that had been wounded in battle. He was Subaru's greatest enemy and protector, but instead of feeling that this was a twisted relationship, Seishirou saw it in a very ordered way. It was as natural to cause wounds as it was to heal them when Subaru was concerned.
"Well. Let's go before you bleed all over the place," Seishirou joked to Subaru's unconscious body. With a tiny smile he walked with Subaru, carrying him through the dark streets that average people were afraid to go through at this hour.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:59 pm
Subaru woke up to a gentle pace, a warmth surrounding him and holding him up. Everything hurt, the constant feeling of an iron hammer beating down on every limb.
He tried to stir, but he was still groggy and close to passing out again. "Wh-where...?" he managed, taking a hold of Seishirou's tie and pulling himself up slightly.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:24 pm
Seishirou didn't answer him because he was afraid his voice would cause Subaru to awaken more and then he would notice that his enemy was carrying him to safety. Pretend it's a dream, Subaru, He thought quietly. He probably could do something to make sure that Subaru did think everything happening around him was a dream.
He placed Subaru down on a table. The table was in his apartment. His apartment was surprisingly normal for a man who was a professional killer and who now had a beaten and bloodied man on his kitchen table.
The back of his mind was reminding him that he had forgotten all about the smoothie and his shower. Seishirou pushed those trial thoughts aside and removed his slightly burnt jacket. He loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves. Seishirou cast a spell first to ensure that Subaru remained in a sedated state. Subaru was entirely in his care now.
That made Seishirou entirely too happy.
"So vulnerable all the time!" He remarked with a smile.
When he hadn't been working, Seishirou had been keeping an eye on Subaru. It never failed to be amusing to watch the young man train to be able to fight the person who always hidden in a corner, on a rooftop, or in the next building. Subaru was looking for someone who was never too far away. As he thought about all these things, he wiped some of Subaru's wounds clean. He didn't really like clean-up; usually whoever ended up bloody would never need to be clean again. The things I do for you, Subaru...You have no idea.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:44 pm
Subaru felt a strange stirring in his mind, and knew instinctively something was wrong. He tried to wake up, but for some reason it wouldn't work; he kept meeting a barrier, one he couldn't remove from the inside.
A sedation spell? The Subaru in his mind's eye paled, wondering what was going to happen to him. His obaa-sama rarely used the spell unless he was severly injured, which he was, but somehow he didn't think she was the one casting it.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:11 pm
Seishirou went through the meticulous task of making sure Subaru didn't die or maintain any permanent damage. He could preform amazing healing spells and charms when he desired to do so. He didn't want to heal him too much because he planned to eventually drop him off at a hospital and pretend this entire situation never happened.
Thinking about dropping Subaru off in the care of some strangers rose his temper slightly. Anyone who got to remove Subaru's clothes and who touched his body and who knew the smell of his blood was intolerable. Finishing off an entire medical staff almost seemed like a reasonable idea when he thought of it in this light.
Now Seishirou was the one watching over Subaru's half-naked body. He had done just about everything that was practical to do considering their situation as mortal enemies.
The most sensitive corner of his heart woke up and he plopped down in a chair next to Subaru. Sighing, he was surprised how the most adorable boy he had ever known grew up to be so handsome. He always knew it would happen, but now he was facing the result. He saw the young man breathing and was thankful to see him so strong. Regardless of what he ever said, Seishirou believed Subaru was strong. He had a true strength that was amazing. It might not be better than his own cold, calculating power, but it was something.
Enough of this. He stood abruptly and made his way to his bedroom, shedding off the remainder of his clothes. He was relatively sure that he had enough time for a quick shower and a change of clothes before leaving his Subaru.
Seishirou showered.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:33 pm
The spell cast wasn't meant to be laid upon him forever, and as a result without proper maintenance it began to fade away.
Subaru fought against the spell's barrier with everything he had, desperate to leave the enclosed space of his mind and memories. Nothing he saw here he wanted to remember, especially now. It was enough that it had already happened, that he was already forced to walk the streets with a heart so heavy it was numb and eyes that echoed a loneliness so terrible even the dead commented upon it. He didn't want to relive it.
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