Warnings: AU, semi-spoilers, shonen-ai, strangeness.... you know, the usual.

Disclaimers: "X" and "Tokyo Babylon" are not mine. X Japan frightens me, and they are also not mine... thank the gods above.... or below... or whatever.

~*~ Chapter One: "Do you love this Tokyo?" ~*~

::Click::

"We�re on in five... four... three... two...."

"Welcome back, everyone. Now, I�d like to call my next guest, Sumeragi Subaru, star of the 1990 hit �Tokyo Babylon� in which he was the lovable teenage ohmyouji that stole girls hearts nationwide. Also the author of �Do You Love This Tokyo?� his autobiography that recounts the story of filming �Tokyo Babylon�." The host motioned to the side of the stage, beckoning Subaru to him. The man of 25 made his way across the stage, a very small smile on his face, and the crowd went into a positive uproar. It took nearly a full three minutes before it got quiet enough for the host to begin. "Thank you for being here today, Sumeragi-san."

"Thank you for having me," Subaru replied, that same small smile on his face. The girls in the crowd began cheering madly again just at the sound of his voice, low and even, and the sight of his gem-like green eyes.

"You have quite the following," the host said with a laugh that Subaru shared. "It�s amazing how wildly popular Babylon was, and still is. And, as I understand it, you are here to discuss with me your new TV series that is a follow-up to that movie."

Subaru flashed a smile. "That is correct. We begin filming �Tokyo Babylon 1999� in November, and it will be airing from January to December of 1999 with the final episode playing on the 31st of December." Subaru folded his hands over his lap and continued. "Sakurazuka Seishirou-san is writing, again. He told me he wished to continue the story of �Tokyo Babylon�, but our characters are actually supporting characters this time around."

The host nodded. "So, can you tell me a little about the story, then. I�ve heard rumors it is about the apocalypse."

"That is correct," Subaru agreed. He paused, collecting his thoughts, and then laughed a little. "It is about a boy who has to decide whether to save the world by destroying humans or to save humans by letting them destroy the Earth. He has with him, depending on which side he chooses, six angels who will help destroy the Earth, or six seals sworn to protect it. I am on the side of the �Heavens�, who chose to protect the world, and Seishirou-san is my counterpart on the other side."

The director nodded sagely. "So, the question everyone wants to know is, will the love story between you and Sakurazuka-san continue?" This caused Subaru to blush furiously, and the whole crowd went into an uproar cheering.

"Ah... yes and no," Subaru said after much deliberation. "It has been nine years, and I am still bitter about what he did to my sister. But, I have decided that I want him to kill me because I can�t become a person who can kill him. Seishirou-san, at this point, has not told me what his motives will be. He is keeping most of the script pretty secretive. He has assured me that the love story will finally come to a sort of final conclusion that will be more satisfying than what he left it at in the end of Tokyo Babylon."

"So, then, can you tell us a little about the actors we�ll be seeing?" The host was now reading off of questions he had written on note cards in his hands.

"Sure. Um, obviously my sister, Seishirou-san, and myself will be in the same roles. We also got Katzuki Kakayou back for the role as Hokuto-chan�s boyfriend. He�s in a wheelchair, now, but Seishirou has written the script appropriately to make up for that." Subaru paused to think. "Shirou Kamui and Monou Fuuma will be playing the parts of the two best friends that the story centers around. Shirou-kun is the one who has to make the decision. His sister, Shirou Kotori will actually be playing the role of Monou�s sister, which was a little confusing to me at first." The crowd and the host laughed at Subaru�s comment, and he paused appropriately.

"We bagged Kagai Yuuto for the part of a water caster," Subaru commented, which won him a round of applause from the audience.

"Kagai-san is doing your show? I thought he only did movie acting these days! He�s a huge star!" The host commented appreciatively.

"Yeah, I still can�t figure out why he agreed to it. But, speaking of idols, we actually also got �everyone�s best friend� to be on of the seals," Subaru said, making a gesture as he spoke that indicated greatness.

"No way. Seiichirou Aoki?"

"The same." Subaru got a smug smile and continued. "We got diva Karen to be another seal, as well as Satsuki, who has become very well known for her skills as a dj in the world of Techno music. Um... Yuzurihara Nekoi will be playing a teenager on my side... oh, and the beautiful model Kishuu Arashi will also be on my side. I think Seishirou-san said that Nataku, the J-pop star was going to be on his side. But, those were all the names I recognized. The others are new to the business."

"Wow, quite the cast you just listed off, Sumeragi-san." The host chuckled, changing note cards. "Anyway, we have a tape from one of your casting sessions. Would you tell us a little about what we are going to see?"

"Sure. This is a scene where Kamui comes to me for help studying and we keep regressing to the topic of the Sakurazukamori and smoking, which I have taken up because of Seishirou-san." Subaru gave the host a pointed look.

"Great, roll the clip!"

~*~

Subaru was sitting alone on a picnic table-type bench, smoking a cigarette, when suddenly there was a cry of, "I�m sorry I�m late!" A boy with bright violet eyes and mess dark hair ran up, panting as he came. After a moment of looking surprised, Subaru watched the boy with patient eyes

"You have a free study period now?" Subaru asked quietly.

"Yeah...." Kamui set down his books. "But is it really okay for you to be missing your fourth period class? I mean... because of me, you...."

"No, it isn�t a problem," Subaru interrupted, flicking ash from his cigarette. "I don�t plan on learning anything here anyway." Subaru closed his eyes. "The only reason I�m here... in the college division, is because it makes finding him more convenient."

"You mean, finding the Sakurazukamori?" Kamui wondered, looking miserable.

"As one of the seven seals... and to have him be one of the angels.... It appears the bond between me and that person has not yet broken," Subaru commented, looking a little dazed. Kamui continued to look positively miserable in the background. Then, changing the subject entirely, Subaru stubbed out his cigarette and asked, "So, is the test next week?"

"Yes, in English and in Math." Kamui replied, motioning to the text books he was going to have to study from.

"You know, I�m a high school drop out, so I may be a little shaky on this, too," Subaru commented, looking warily at the text books.

"Anything beats Sorata," Kamui said suddenly, looking more than a little irritated. "He just teaches me nonsense. Kamui began to blush. "When I was younger... I haven�t gone to school much either. I�m sorry to ask you to do something so troublesome."

"It isn�t troublesome," Subaru insisted, lighting as cigarette as he spoke, and pointedly ignoring the blush on Kamui�s face.

"Um... Subaru... the cigarette...." Kamui trailed off from whatever he was going to say.

"Oh, is smoking to much?"

"It isn�t that!" Kamui looked away. "You just... you smoke too much."

"It�s okay," Subaru commented lightly, flicking his cigarette. "I know some people whose brain power decreases when they smoke, but I�m the opposite." Subaru picked up one of Kamui�s books, looking over what they were supposed to be reviewing.

"Is that why you always smoke different brands?

"Brand isn�t important."

"Because you only need to beat him, right?" Subaru looked up in surprise, and then looked away. "Because if you don�t do it, you will never win over the Sakurazukamori." Kamui was blushing again. "It is none of my business, but it is bad for your body."

There was a pause, and then Subaru stubbed out the cigarette, looking through the papers and books scattered between them. Kamui watched this, blushing furiously the whole while.

Subaru smiled at him. "Let�s begin, shall we?"

~*~

There was another roar of applause from the crowd as the clip ended, and Subaru just nodded to the sound silently, closing his eyes. The host was saying repeatedly, "wow" in a sort of surprised but pleased manner. Subaru didn�t seem to notice. In fact, he looked to be attempting to ignore it all. "Shirou-san is amazing."

"He�s even more attractive in life," Subaru said with a smug smile for the host who looked embarrassed before digging into his cards again. The crowd was a mix of squeals of delight and harsh laughter. Subaru glanced away from the host and gave a wink to the camera.

"Speaking of attraction," the host commented, apparently right back on his feet after being chastised. "Everyone wants to know whatever happened between you and Sakurazuka-san. But, I�m told that you outline everything in your book." The host leaned toward Subaru a little, and asked, "Can you tell us a little about that, Sumeragi-san?"

Subaru laughed. "Actually, Tokyo Babylon turned out to be far more accurate than I ever imagined." Subaru gave a heavy sigh and shook his head. "The day that I was called in to meet my fellow actors... the day that we filmed the �do you love this Tokyo� scene that has become so amazingly popular, Seishirou-san made a bet with me." Subaru paused to laugh while a sudden din of whispers rose from the crowd. "He said, depending on the end of our bet, he might change the original end to Babylon."

"Well, what was the bet?" The host asked. He was on the edge of his seat, honestly curious.

"Read the book." Subaru replied with a smug smile. He made a "don�t ask me� gesture with his hands and a slight shrug, and added, "to satisfy some of your curiosity, though, he did change the ending." The crowd went silent, the host had no questions, and the entire studio fell into a deep, long, silence. Subaru looked around, surprised, and blinked cutely once. "What?"

"What was the original ending?" The host finally managed, amazed that he would have such a huge news break on his show. The wildly popular movie had an ending no one knew of before, and the books didn�t hit the shelves for another week, so he would make this new information known to the world before anyone else.

Subaru looked down at his hands in his lap. "In the original ending, I won the bet." Subaru got a very small smile on his face, and continued sadly, "I won the bet, and Seishirou told me that he was the Sakurazukamori and never killed Hokuto. Being the person I am, I was accepting of what he was, albeit terrified, but he... erm... convinced me to give it a try. In the original end, we bring a balance to the magic in Japan, and clearly fall deeply in love."

There was another silence, and then the crowd burst into mad cheering mixed with some cries of disbelief, and some shouts of "why�d he have to go and mess it up?" and the like. Subaru finally looked away from his hands, and laughed fluidly.

"Seishirou-san is going to kill me for telling everyone that!" Subaru laughed more, and the host just looked confused. Subaru finally reached up and wiped a tear of mirth out of his right eye. "Um, anyway, it will all make sense if you read the book. Which, I think for any fan, it will be enjoyable. I hear that Seishirou-san plans on writing the counterpart to this book after we finish with �99. He told me he would call it either �I Love This Tokyo Because...� or �Do You Hate This Tokyo?�. As you can imagine, though, he found it amusing to suggest... other quotes from the movie for the title."

"Of course. I assume that Sakurazuka-san�s teasing is based on life." Subaru nodded in agreement, and the host tapped the cards against the table. "Well, thank you for your time, Sumeragi-san. It is always nice to see you. This is... your third appearance with us, right?"

"Second. I�m waiting to give you a third in another nine years." The audience and the host laughed. "Thank you for having me, though. And please check out the show, since you are a fan." The host agreed, and they shook hands. Subaru got a standing ovation walking off the stage.

"Coming up next we have a live performance by X Japan. They�ll be playing their new hit song �Forever Love� based off of Sakurazuka-san�s script. The song is included on the soundtrack �A Foreordained Destiny� that comes in a two CD set with the ever-popular �A Save For Tokyo City Soundtrack� that I am sure everyone in this au...."

::Click::

Sakurazuka Seishirou, still holding the remote in one hand, stared blankly at the black TV screen. "Subaru-kun," he muttered mournfully to himself, putting his fingers to his temples.

"A bet, Sakurazuka-san?"

"Subaru-kun, I bet you that I can make you fall in love with me in one year. If I lose, and you feel nothing, you can just forget I ever existed. After all, we�ll be done with the movie by then."

"And if you win?"

"Then you will be mine. But, you will be in love with me, in that case, so I think we both win."

"I�m a boy, Sakurazuka-san."

"I can see that."

"I�m sixteen."

"I can see that too."

"Sakurazuka-san."

"Just �Seishirou�, Subaru-kun."

"...All right. You have one year."

Seishirou felt that same unfortunate twist in his chest as he always had, just thinking about it. Subaru had won the bet, and left Seishirou�s life for nine years. That was why Seishirou had changed the ending... out of sheer bitterness. But... with nine years to feel terribly about it, Seishirou was getting a second chance to get things right.

And he would. He would have Subaru if it killed him. Of course, there was always that little complication that Subaru and Kamui had started dating about a week after Kamui was cast....

Seishirou continued to stare at the blank TV screen. That was the story of his life.

~*~ To be continued.... ~*~