Title: Where have you gone, Subaru-kun?
Author: Epeeblade
Site: http://www.geocities.com/epeeblade
Series: X
Rating: PG-13, and I tend to rate high
Warning: SPOILERS, if you haven’t read X16, beware
Archive: CFFML and my site
Summary: Subaru gets a mission from his Grandmother that threatens to tear him apart 
from within. 
Disclaimer: The characters and situations depicted within belong to CLAMP. However, a 
key portion of this plot belongs to Kevin Smith. Please don’t sue, the Sakura would cry.

Prologue

The Kamui of the Dragons of Earth slid beneath the satin sheets that covered his bed in 
the Angels’ inner sanctum. After the trying afternoon, he felt he deserved the rest. After 
all, it wasn’t as if the world was going to end anytime soon. He grinned at his own joke, 
before a yawn overtook him. He rolled over; closed his eyes and willed sleep to take him.

He dozed, a familiar sent wafting across his nostrils. /Kamui/ rubbed at his nose tiredly, 
coming awake all at once.

Someone else lurked in his bedroom. He sighed, had Nataku gone so far as to follow him 
again? “Daddy needs sleep, Kazuki.” He murmured, using his powers to click on the 
lamp.

And then realized why the scent had been so familiar.

Seishirou Sakurazuka stood at his window, a freshly lit cigarette in his hand. This would 
not have been so remarkable, except that /Kamui/ had seen the Sakurazukamori dead 
earlier that day. “You’re dead.” He blurted, for once shocked.

Seishirou laughed, “There’s a cliché to answer that, but I will refrain. My dear Kamui, 
death is what you make of it.”

Part 1

In Kyoto, a young onmyouji smoked his last cigarette before entering his grandmother’s 
presence. Subaru Sumeragi had fled the campus where the other Dragons lived to come 
here, one place that should have been home. The place that had ceased to be home nine 
years ago, when his sister had been taken from him by the man he had loved.

Was it so hard, even now, to admit that to himself? Now, that Seishirou-san was dead, his 
death engineered by Subaru’s sister, but carried out by his own hands, now that his wish 
was also just as dead, could he not be honest with himself, to think what his heart had 
known for a long time?

The flame had burned the cigarette down to he filter, and he dropped it absently, grinding 
the ashes under his foot. Now he could finally see what his grandmother wanted. He had 
kept himself hidden from her presence for a month now, but she had finally sought him 
out with word of a job. All things considered, he was still the head of the Sumeragi clan, 
and his broken heart could be set aside for the moment. At least until he figured out what 
he wanted to live for now, if at all.

He pushed open the screen door slowly, slipping inside with all the noise of the wind. 
Now, as always, he responsibilities came first. 

“Grandmother,” he greeted the woman who sat as regally in her wheelchair, as if it was a 
throne.

She gestured to her aide, who left the room at the command. Lady Sumeragi stared down 
her grandson for a moment, and Subaru resisted the urge to squirm under that intense 
gaze. Her face softened a bit, “I’ve waited a long time to speak with you, Subaru.”

He shrugged, not knowing if she was referring to the nine years of minimal contact, or his 
one month of seclusion. 

She sighed softly, then reached for a folder that rested on the small desk to her side. “I 
wouldn’t hurt you, Subaru, if I could at all help it, you know that, don’t you? You’ve 
suffered enough.”

He winced at her words, knowing that this was going to be bad. What could be worse 
than what had just happened to him? As he took the folder from her hands, he wondered 
if the job was even worth taking. He fully expected to be gone with the rest of humanity 
when the world ended. One seal was already broken, the rest would be soon to follow.

He flipped the envelope open and gasped. Inside were pictures of Seishirou-san. He 
wanted to throw the folder back at her, demand her reasons for showing him the very 
object of his pain. But respect and tradition held him back and he only glared at her, 
hoping his shock showed in his one remaining green eye.

“Look Subaru,” she said softly, “Those pictures were taken this week.”

“He’s still alive.” Subaru gasped, startled. Perhaps now, his wish could now be granted.

“No.” her harsh voice cut through his thoughts like ice. 

Subaru swallowed hard, “His spirit then? Spirits cannot be photographed.”

“I would that it was his spirit that remained on this plane.” She murmured, “No, Subaru, 
have you heard of a Hollow?”

Subaru thought for a moment, that word seemed familiar, but where had he heard it? 
Something from his studies, an old legend, not from the East, from the West….”I’m not 
sure.” He answered honestly.

She closed her eyes and breathed out a small puff of air. “I would that you had. A Hollow 
is a body without a soul. An empty vessel walking this earth with the same personality 
and appearance as when the being was whole.”

Subaru eyes widened, as he stared at the picture in his hands. Seishirou was holding a 
cigarette, looking off into the distance, since he certainly didn’t know he was being 
photographed. Subaru ran one finger down the glossy page, pausing just beneath the 
older man’s face. “How do you know that he is one of them? Perhaps he merely 
survived… the bridge. He is master of illusions, after all.” He protested quietly.

“Subaru, please.” She sighed, “I watched his soul pass. I saw the bargain struck. Did you 
think I would not watch over you?”

Subaru looked at her accusingly, “You knew, you knew about Hokuto’s spell…”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, regaining her regal bearing as best she could. 
“No, I did not know. But I knew you would face him one last time and one of you would 
not survive. I’m only glad…” here she paused and caught her breath again. “Will you 
take the job?”

“And what is this job?” he demanded.

“Destroy the Hollow, before he interferes with the end of the world.”

As easy as that? Subaru wanted to say, but withheld comment. Killing Seishirou once had 
nearly destroyed him, how could he do it a second time? /But it’s not Seishirou-san/ a 
voice whispered inside him, a soft slithering voice that had come to him many times since 
he had plunged his fist through his beloved’s chest. /It’s just another mask, like the one 
he wore before…/

“Will you Subaru?” she asked again.

“I will try.” He answered quietly, not at all certain of his feelings at the moment.

She nodded, “Please be careful. Before, he may have been emotionless, but at least he 
had a soul. Now, you face something even more terrible than the Sakurazukamori. I can 
give you a spell, but it can only be used once….”

Part 2

Kamui missed Subaru. He didn’t want the other Seals to know, but suspected he wasn’t 
fooling them at all. Ever since the young omnyouji had slipped out of his room weeks 
before, Kamui had been despondent. He had hoped Subaru had not gone forever, that he 
somehow had given some meaning to the young man’s tortured heart.

He didn’t want Subaru to have left him for good, as Fuuma had. Kamui looked startled at 
his own thought. When had he given up on his childhood friend? When did thoughts of 
Subaru overshadow the ache that Fuuma had placed on his heart? 

“Shiro-kun, come on, we’ll be late for class!”

Kamui snapped to attention at Keichi’s sudden warning. He had forgotten for a moment 
where he was, shopping in what was left of the markets of Tokyo with his cheery 
classmate. He couldn’t talk himself out of the trip at the time, so found himself dragged 
from shop to shop. Kamui didn’t even remember what Keichi was looking for in the first 
place. He turned to tell his classmate that he was on his way when something caught the 
corner of his eye.

“Subaru,” he murmured, ducking away from the shop, following the wisp of pale trench 
coat. It couldn’t be him, how many dozens of times had he thought the same, only to find 
the same coat attached to someone else. This time however, as he ran down the streets, 
following the figure, it /was/ Subaru. “Subaru!” he cried as he ran towards the young 
man, reached out and grabbed the sleeve of the coat.

Subaru turned and looked down at Kamui, a look of fear on his face, “Kamui, no.” He 
pulled the young man aside, away from the press of the crowd.

“Subaru,” Kamui murmured again, this time looking up into the mismatched eyes of his 
friend. “Where have you been?”

“Hush, now is not the time. He might have heard you.” Subaru whispered, looking over 
his shoulder. 

“Who?” Kamui whispered back.

Subaru jumped as if started, and his hand, which he had rested on Kamui’s shoulder, 
jerked as if burned. A moment later, a voice said from behind him. “Why, Subaru-kun, 
interesting meeting you here. Where you shopping as well? I didn’t think you had the 
same interest in fashion as your sister had.”

/No/ Kamui thought, horrified, he had watched this man die. 

Subaru swallowed hard then whirled around, covering Kamui with his body. “No.” he 
said softly, although it was uncertain to what exactly he was replying to.

Seishirou Sakurazuka stood in the street, sunlight glinting off his raven hair, and mirrored 
sunglasses. He rested against a lamppost, his posture calm, relaxed, cleverly staged. With 
a precise movement, he pulled a package of cigarettes from one hand, and pulled one 
slim white tube from the box. “Do you have a light, Subaru-kun?”

Subaru shook his head swiftly.

“Oh dear, you always were good with the lighter. I suppose I should start carrying my 
own, don’t you think?” the midnight assassin remarked cheerily. “What about you, 
Kamui Shiro? Got a light?”

“I don’t smoke,” Kamui retorted, once again using bravado to cover his fear. And he was 
frightened. For a moment he could believe this was a trick, something Fuuma had 
dreamed up to torment him. But the Sakurazukamori was the master of illusions, not 
Fuuma, and unless this was a dream, there was no other way to explain the presence of 
the man before them. If this wasn’t a trick, then this was a nightmare, that once again the 
man who held dominion over Subaru’s being had returned to vex them.

“Good, good, don’t start, young man. It’s bad for you,” Seishirou continued in his happy 
voice, “Is this why you have been hiding, Subaru-kun? You’ve been cheating on me?” he 
tsked softly. “I didn’t know you also had a taste for young boys. We could have shared 
him.”

“I know what you are.” Subaru bit out, “And you’re not Seishirou.”

The assassin laughed, “And who else would I be?”

“You’re just a shell.” Subaru whispered.

“But I look so real,” Seishirou taunted, “Come to me, Subaru-kun, let me fulfill your 
wish at last….”

“NO!” Kamui shouted, his hands glowing with power, he lifted them and shot a warning 
bolt at the older man. “I won’t let you kill him.”

“What makes you think that is the wish I was referring to?” The assassin laughed, 
“People are starting to glare, Kamui-chan. You don’t want everyone to know it’s the end 
of the world as they know it, do you? Later, Subaru-kun.” He waved, and his hand 
dissipated into thousands of floating sakura petals, then his arm disappeared, then the rest 
of his body.

Subaru breathed heavily, he whirled on Kamui and grasped his arm, “Come, we have to 
get away from here,” he ran, pulling the boy with him.

“Wait, what’s going on!” Kamui gasped, struggling to keep up.

Subaru stopped running. “It doesn’t matter. You have to go back to the other Dragons of 
Heaven.”

“No!” Kamui protested, “You have to come back with me, too.”

“Kamui,” Subaru rubbed his forehead, as if it pained him. “I have to draw him away from 
you. You don’t understand the danger.”

“He’s still as dangerous as he was before.” Kamui protested. “I don’t understand why you 
have to go away.”

“He’s more dangerous that ever.” Subaru sighed. “Only I can defeat him, Kamui. 
He’s…” he struggled with words to explain, “he’s undead, unnatural. A body without a 
soul.”

“And what was he before.” Kamui snapped bitterly.

Subaru slapped him. “You don’t understand anything.”

Kamui reeled with the blow, more startled than hurt. He rubbed his cheek, then clenched 
his hand into a fist. “Why? Because I’m just a boy? I’m good enough to fight for the fate 
of the world, but I’m not good enough for you, Subaru Sumeragi?”

“That’s not what I meant.” Subaru murmured.

“It doesn’t matter what you meant.” Kamui whispered, fighting the tears that threatened 
to break. “You don’t want me around, fine.” He turned and ran, away from the busy 
streets, away from Subaru, away from everything.

He didn’t notice Subaru’s fists clench, or the onmyouji fall to his knees as sobs overtook 
his frail form.

Part 3

“Well, Seishirou, what did you do today?” Fuuma asked brightly as the older Angel 
entered the complex of the Dragons of Earth.

Seishirou smiled at the young man, “Nothing really, did some shopping, ran into an old 
foe.”

“The Sumeragi?”

“Who else? I’m going to have to finish him off soon before he gets in the way of our 
plans.”

“And those plans are set, aren’t they, Seishirou?” Fuuma nearly purred, as he leaned 
forward.

Seishirou ran his fingers through the young man’s hair, as one would a beloved pet, then 
let the boy snuggle up to him. “Of course. I need to see to some details, but we strike 
tomorrow. No use waiting any longer than that.”

“And after tomorrow?”

Seishirou laughed again, “The world as we know it, will be gone.”

***

Subaru spent another lonely night flipping through the pages of the ancient tome on 
mythology. Information on Hollows was precious and brief. What he had learned 
frightened him all the more. As an empty vessel, a Hollow was ripe for possession by all 
sorts of spirits, from ambient ghosts to more malevolent demons. And from what he 
could translate, the inner circle of demons would do anything to get their hands on such a 
creature. 

Inner circle demons couldn’t affect the earth plane alone. They often resorted to 
manipulation, deal making and other plots. But with a human body, mere mischief would 
be extended a hundred-fold. And a human body trained in magic was even worse. The 
war for the prize would create more destruction than the fight for humanity ever could.

“Please tell me you didn’t choose this Seishirou-san.” He whispered, “That you didn’t 
willingly barter your soul away.” 

He stood and rubbed his tired eyes. Tokyo was beautiful at night, even after all the 
destruction, there was still beauty to be appreciated, he thought as he scanned the skylight 
from his window. He had insisted in an apartment as close to the sky as possible, despite 
the earthquake danger. There was a better chance of him dying at Seishirou’s hand than 
in an earthquake anyway. 

The thought depressed him. It might be Seishirou’s hand, but it didn’t make Subaru 
worthy to die there. He wanted to mean something to the soul, the person who did exist 
inside the shell, and now he knew such a person did exist. Had to exist. 

He turned back to the bed where he had rested the book. Perhaps he should try to sleep, 
somehow conjure up the strength to face the Hollow tomorrow. To his surprise the pages 
of the book began to turn, as if blown by a breeze even though the window was closed. 
He sat down on the bed and watched as the pages stopped flowing. In the center of the 
first page, almost marking the line of text, lay a single sakura petal.

He frowned and began to read.

***

Kamui couldn’t sleep. He kept running the day’s events through his head and something 
didn’t make sense.

/I know who you are, and you’re not Seishiriou/

/you’re just a shell/

/Kamui, I have to draw him away from you/

/you don’t understand/

Kamui didn’t understand. He slipped out of bed and tiptoed to Sorata’s room, just down 
the hall. He waited there, rested his head against the frame of the door. He lifted his hand, 
wanting to knock, but stopped and merely laid it against the door as well. Subaru didn’t 
want him, didn’t want to be his friend, had only been tied to him because he had been a 
Seal. Now, he had gone back to his other responsibilities, it was simply nothing more 
than that. He sighed and turned to go.

Sorata’s door opened, “When were you going to knock, Kamui?” The monk greeted him 
with a smile on his face.

“I-I’m sorry, it’s so late, and I didn’t want to….” Kamui began, his voice faltering.  “I 
don’t know who else I can talk to.”

“Come in,” Sorata stepped back, the smile fading slightly. “C’mon, let’s bounce on the 
bed, it’ll make you feel better.”

“What?” Kamui cried.

Sorata took a running start and then plopped on the bed, bouncing a few times before 
settling. “Bouncing. The beds at Koya were too hard for this. Nothing like these big 
fluffy beds for ruining a bad mood.

Kamui cracked a smile before he ran and joined Sorata on the bed, enjoying the bouncing 
sensation. “Thanks.”

“So what did you want to talk about?” Sorata asked mid-bounce.

Kamui sighed, “I saw Subaru today.”

“And he doesn’t want to come back?” Sorata prodded gently.

Kamui nodded, “And, more than that. I saw the Sakurazukamori.”

Sorata stopped his bouncing and whirled on Kamui. “/What?/”

“Subaru called him a shell without a soul, said he was undead. Then he didn’t want my 
help.” Kamui blurted, “He didn’t want me.”

Sorata sighed. “I never imagined…” he stood and began pacing thoughtfully, then he 
stopped suddenly and knelt at Kamui’s side. “Kamui, you care about Subaru-san, don’t 
you?”

Kamui nodded shyly.

Sorata ruffled his hair gently. “Ok, you worry about Subaru, and let me worry about the 
Hollow.”

“Hollow?” Kamui wondered aloud, “You mean the …”

“Shhh. I said let me worry about that. I want you to think about Subaru, about why you’re 
so upset with him.”

“Because he abandoned me, just like everyone else I ever loved.” Kamui whispered, his 
eyes burning with tears.

“Let it out, Kamui,” Sorata murmured, cradling the boy in his arms until the tears melted 
into sleep. He covered Kamui gently with his blanket before leaving the room. Arashi’s 
rooms were on the other side of the mansion – at her request, but he needed to speak with 
her.

She opened the door at his knock, frowning at first, then her expression smoothed as she 
took in the serious look on his face. “Sorata, what…?”

“When they trained you at Ise, did they tell you about Hollows?” he asked brusquely, 
there was no time for finesse now. 

Her eyes widened and then she nodded slightly. “I was taught to destroy one if I ever 
encountered one.”

“For good reason. Did they tell you how?” he asked. 

“Why are you asking?” she murmured, looking down the empty hallway.

“Because Kamui saw the Sakurazukamori today.”

Her gaze snapped back to his face quickly. “Impossibly, we saw him die. You can’t 
think?”

“Subaru-san’s is also back in town.”

She frowned, “Onmyouji’s deal with spirits, not Hollows.”

“Do you think he knows how to destroy it?”

“I hope so…” she whispered.

“Hoping isn’t good enough.” Sorata snapped. “We have to do something.”

She continued to stare at him, she had rarely seen him so serious. “What do you 
suggest?”

“Coming up with a plan, and soon.”

Part 4

Kamui dreamt he was flying. Someone was calling his name and he soared, looking for 
the person. “Where are you?” he wanted to shout, but he could not speak, could only 
continue to fly through thick clouds that obscured his vision. 

Soon he began to descend, and all he could see on the ground was a single Sakura, in full 
bloom. He perched on a branch, as if a bird. Next to him, a great falcon also perched, 
gazing at him with thoughtful tawny eyes.

The falcon had called him.

“Not perfect, but you’ll do.”

Kamui still could not speak, but he listened intently to the falcon. “You have to save him 
from himself. The spell he was given won’t work.”

Then what must he do? Kamui wanted to ask.

“He needs to embrace his greatest fear.” The falcon told him. “His own enemy.”

You’re not being helpful at all, Kamui glared at the great bird of prey.

“I can’t help it. You won’t understand it even if I explained it all from the beginning. Just 
remember, you must go to him tomorrow, before he casts the spell.”

Where? Kamui wanted to ask, but he knew, the location was the same as the dream, and 
he came awake with a start, realizing he was alone in Sorata’s room.

Subaru needed him; he had to go. Kamui scrawled a brief note to Sorata, before slipping 
back to him room where he quickly changed. He had to get to the Sakura before Subaru 
did.

***

Subaru had checked one last time to ensure that he was ready before he left for Ueno 
Park. It was the only place Seishirou would be, even as a Hollow, the Sakura would obey 
him. Or so Subaru hoped, if not he was out of options. 

He had worn his coat over his ceremonial robes, if he were to cast the spell given by his 
grandmother, he would need all the protection it afforded. At his waist hung the sheathed 
ceremonial dagger, and hidden in his sleeves were the dozens of ofuda necessary when 
one faced battle with an opponent such as the Sakurazukamori, or even a facsimile of 
one.

Seishirou was waiting for him, standing under the ever-in-bloom tree, the wind ruffling 
the obsidian colored coat ever so slightly. He held his lit cigarette to his lips, took one 
long drag, and dropped the still lit base. The ground somehow caught, the flame forming 
a circle of protection about him and the tree. 

So, no witty banter, no games this time; Subaru was almost disappointed.  It would, 
however, make this shell of his love much easier to kill. He slipped out of his coat 
quickly, then formed his fingers into the proper positions as he began to chant. He needed 
to ward this area quickly, to keep the battle from damaging innocent bystanders. For a 
moment he wished for his ability to set up a Kekkai, but that had vanished when he 
relinquished his place as Seal. 

He barely noticed Seishirou’s grin, as the man threw up his hands.

The fire faded away, became ice…

And the world tilted upside down.

That’s what it felt like to Subaru, who struggled to keep his wards in place. The battle 
would be contained here and now. He chanted desperately, feeling the bounds of his 
magic tested by a far greater power.

Then he realized was Seishirou had done. “Are you insane?” he wanted to shout, the 
Hollow had set up open invitation to the creatures of the underworld, advertising that it 
was a vessel up for possession. Any moment now, the park would be overrun with 
demons. 

“Subaru!” a voice shouted from behind him.

“Kamui, not now.” He thought frantically, feeling his spell shredding at his fingertips. 
Wind roared in his ears, the howling sounding victorious as Seishirou’s spell began to 
overwhelm the wards.

“No!” Kamui shouted one last time, and then there was silence.

Subaru gasped, falling to the damp earth. Kamui had set up a Kekkai. Almost startled at 
what he had done, Kamui ran to Subaru’s side. “Subaru!”

“Kamui, please, I need to do this alone,” Subaru whispered, gratefully accepting the 
boy’s help in standing. He gripped Kamui’s shoulders tightly, not wanting to let go of 
that minimal support.

“I know,” he whispered, “But you have to listen to me. The spell won’t work, you have 
to, have to, embrace your enemy…”

“What? Kamui, what are you talking about?” Subaru resisted the urge to shake him.

“It was a dream, a falcon spoke to me, I know it’s silly,” he shook his head.

But it wasn’t silly, not entirely, if this had anything to do with what Subaru had read last 
night…

“If you two are quite finished, I believe we have some business to get to, don’t we 
Subaru-kun?” the hollow asked hoarsely. 

Subaru turned to face the shell, gasping once more as he saw the other /Kamui/ emerge 
from the shadows behind him.

“Oh dear, Seishirou,” Fuuma said in a high pitched falsetto, the grin never leaving his 
face, “In order to create mass destruction, we’ll have to kill the creator of the Kekkai. 
Isn’t that a shame?”

Subaru could feel Kamui trembling under his fingers. “Kamui, you have to fight him.”

He nodded, “I know. You do what you have to do, “ and then, still trembling, Kamui 
leaned up and pecked Subaru on the lips before pulling out of his grasp. “I’m the one you 
want Fuuma!” he cried, his hands blazing with power.

“It’s Kamui!” Fuuma cried, facing his twin star.

Subaru turned back to Seishirou, who had begun opening the gates to Hell. “No,” he 
murmured. “Not this time.” He clasped his hands together once more, then paused. Here 
is where he would cast the spell his grandmother had given him, sacrificing his own life 
to bring down the Hollow. But Kamui had said the spell wouldn’t work. “Embrace your 
enemy.” The dream had told him. And then, combined with what his had read last 
night…/’The killer of the Sakurazukamori becomes his successor…’/

“I understand.” He said aloud, finally understanding what that whispering voice had been 
these past few months. The Sakura called him home, called him master. He reached 
within himself, found the part of his soul that was oh so tenuously connected to the 
antediluvian tree and grasped that power for himself.

The Hollow looked surprised, his spell faltered, and the glowing ice began to melt. “No,” 
he murmured. 

“You won’t be able to open the portal now.” Subaru cried, his voice sounding different 
even to his own ears. 

“What one lacks in power one has in skill,” Seishirou murmured, clasping his own 
fingers together. He began to chant, the very words anathema to Subaru’s training and 
own soul. 

/‘There is more to me than power,’/ that voice again, the tree trying to help him. He still 
didn’t completely trust it, going so quickly from being its prisoner to its master, but it was 
the only way. “Do it,” he commanded and watched in satisfaction as the Hollow began to 
writhe. 

“What…are … you… doing… to … me?” it gasped out.

“You wanted to be filled, offered your vessel to the highest bidder, well, I’m bidding, 
Hollow. You are feeling the souls of the Sakura fight for the body of the very man who 
imprisoned them. Justice, don’t you think?” Subaru walked over to the body, which lay 
on the ground, convulsing as one soul, then another took possession. He swallowed hard, 
it was so difficult, seeing Seishirou-san like this and remembering that it wasn’t 
Seishirou-san. He needed to destroy the body now, while it was occupied, but he 
couldn’t, just couldn’t bring himself to kill him again. He closed his eyes and turned 
away.

He nearly jumped as he felt his ankle being grasped, he looked down at the hand that held 
it tightly, then the face, the mismatched amber and white gaze, “Help me, Subaru-kun.”

No, could it be? Could Seishirou-san’s soul have re-inhabited the soulless body? Was 
Seishirou-san back? 

/“No,”/ that voice again, from within. /’Subaru-kun, I am the Sakura now./

Then he understood the fate of every Sakurazukamori, and his own destiny suddenly 
became clear to him. He kicked the hand away, “You are not Seishirou-san!”

As he jumped away from the body and the tree, he heard wind, he looked up, and saw 
that the Kekkai was coming down. Kamui! He had forgotten all about him. /”Some 
attentive lover you are, Subaru-kun! Forgotten when your boy has risked his life for 
you?”/

“Hush,” he told the voice, and turned gratefully, to see Kamui coming through the trees, 
his clothes torn and bloody, but he was very much alive. “What happened?” he asked.

“It’s not to be,” Kamui sighed, “He left when he saw that you had beaten the 
Sakurazukamori.”

“The Hollow.” Subaru corrected, glancing back at the body, which still jiggled with the 
entry and exit of souls. There had been very many souls in the tree. He wondered how 
long until they all had had their say?

“Subaru-san!”

“Kamui!”

They turned to great Sorata and Arashi, who appeared in the clearing. “We were looking 
for you, then we sensed the Kekkai.” Sorata explained. “What are you two doing in the 
park alone? Having a date?” 

Arashi jabbed him in the ribs and pointed to the body of the Hollow, still caught under 
the Sakura. “It needs to be destroyed in the proscribed manner.”

“You know?” Subaru asked, too tired to wonder how or why.

Arashi nodded slowly. Sorata began edging over to examine the body. “We’ll take care of 
it.” He told them. “No sweat.”

“Subaru, let’s go home,” Kamui said softly, taking the onmyouji’s arm. The young man 
looked haggard, and he slumped over as if exhausted. “You need to rest, come on.”

“Just one more thing, “ Subaru stood up suddenly, turned to where Sorata and Arashi had 
placed themselves around the body, Arashi’s sword already in her hand. “I have to keep 
the souls from entering while you destroy the body. I don’t want any of them hurt.”

Arashi nodded. “Tell me when and I’ll be swift.”

Subaru closed his eyes once more, both to concentrate and to keep from watching 
Seishirou’s death. “Now,” he whispered and heard the telltale /wisk/ of her sword. He 
turned away, eyes still closed and followed Kamui’s gentle lead away from the park.

Epilogue

Subaru woke up in a strange bed, staring at a strange ceiling. He sat up slowly, realizing 
he was still in his ceremonial clothes, apparently the person who had put him abed did 
not feel up to undressing him.

The door to the room swung open and Kamui entered, leaning against the doorframe. 
Soothing and enticing breakfast smells followed him in. For once, Subaru felt hungry. 
“Come here, Kamui.” He held out a hand in welcome.

Kamui flew from the door to his side on the bed, sitting at Subaru’s gesture. “We would 
like to thank you for your help.”

“We?” Kamui asked puzzled.

Subaru sighed, he didn’t want to explain the existence of the Sakura in his mind just yet. 
“Kamui, you know I can no longer be a Seal.”

“It doesn’t matter, Subaru. You can stay here as long as you like,” Kamui offered shyly.

/’Awfully forward, isn’t he? It isn’t even his house.’/  Subaru ignored Seishirou, 
wondering if the chattering of the previous Sakurazukamori had often driven the current 
one insane. “Kamui, why would you want me to stay?” /’oh, clever, getting him to admit 
it before you commit. I taught you well, Subaru-kun’/

“B-because you’re my friend,” Kamui said, “and it would be nice if someone I cared 
about actually stayed for once.”

Subaru smiled at that. He ruffled the teenager’s hair fondly, “and the kiss?”

Kamui blushed, “I was hoping you forgot that. I thought, well that one of us wouldn’t..”

“Shhh,” Subaru stopped Kamui from continuing by placing his finger over the boy’s lips. 
“Thank you, Kamui, for your caring.”

“Do you think, maybe, if you,” Kamui stopped and looked at his hands nervously.

Subaru placed one hand over Kamui’s. “Let’s take this slowly. There are things about me 
that you should know.”

“And I still have battles to fight,” Kamui whispered softly, “But I would like it if you 
stayed.”

Subaru agreed, it was the least he could do, after Kamui had done for him. Besides he 
foresaw himself staying in Tokyo for quite some time. He had a tree to see to, after all.

End.