Warnings: Shonen-ai, surrealism

I'm having trouble trying to sleep

I'm counting sheep but running out

As time ticks by, still I try

No rest for cross stops in my room

On my own, here we go

Subaru made his way to the door, stumbling over sleep-weary feet. He all but collapsed against the door, sighing in defeat when he realized he didn�t want to have to move to open the door or to check who it was on the other side. His sister had been out running errands to get food and medicine Subaru needed while he was still under the weather. Subaru didn�t have the heart to tell her he thought it was something magical, like a curse, for he was well aware that Hokuto would worry herself sick and never leave her twin alone for two seconds unless to figure out how to break the curse. Subaru had already been working on that, hoping to have it figured out before she came back.

Of course, if it was her, why didn�t she just come in? It�s not like she didn�t have a key.

�Subaru-kun! Open the door, Subaru-kun!� Subaru�s face exploded into a blush when he realized who he was really walling out with the door. He heard some muttering, then some fumbling, and before he knew it, the door was swinging in, threatening to trap Subaru against the wall. He sprang back in surprise. He was only more surprised when he didn�t hit the floor. His visitor made sure of that.

�Seishirou-san...� Subaru was the color of a fully ripe tomato, and it was only partly due to the ailment he was suffering. Okay, who the hell was he kidding? Subaru was head over heals in love with Seishirou. The kind of love that is so desperate and hopeless it is practically doomed to failure, but unavoidable, none the less.

�Hokuto-chan gave me a key, but I was hoping you could open the door for me.� Only then did Subaru realize that Seishirou was performing quite the balancing act, carrying several grocery bags and a gallon of what looked to be black raspberry juice. Admittedly, Subaru loved it, but he would not tell his sister because she would find some way to deem it evil or unhealthy and never let him drink it again.

Subaru scrambled away from Seishirou, colliding with the wall, and sinking to his knees on the floor. �Gomen,� he muttered pitifully from where he was slumped against the wall. He wore only his black catsuit, and was starting to feel cold in it. Something told him it was from feeling sheepish in front of Seishirou. �I�m not feeling well. I assume Hokuto-chan told you as much, though.�

Seishirou placed the bags on the ground gently, as though not to disturb the contents, and slipped out of his shoes. He gently closed the door and knelt by Subaru with a small smile on his face. He reached a hand up to brush back Subaru�s bangs, leaning in closer. �You look terrible,� Seishirou commented quietly. Then, he got a slightly annoyed expression on his face. �Who did this to you?�

�Seishirou-san... you can tell?� Subaru�s jaw was slack in surprise. So, Seishirou knew it was a curse as well. Oh well, it figured. For a guy who spent most of his time with sick and injured animals, he really did seem to understand humans pretty well. �I can�t trace it. I�ve been working at it all afternoon. Hokuto-chan has been gone long enough for me to run out of ideas, at least.�

Seishirou smiled. �Don�t worry, Subaru-kun, we�ll think of something.� Seishirou suddenly scooped Subaru up, much to the dismay and secret delight of the younger boy, and said quietly, �I�ll put you back in bed, so you can rest. Then, I�ll make something for you to eat. Only after you�ve recovered your energy can you really get back to work and you know it, Subaru-kun.� Subaru knew he was right, and was well aware that he was getting very sound advice from the man he loved, but he was far too focused on the way Seishirou said his name. He loved the sound of the simple word on the other man�s tongue.

�Seishirou-san... you don�t....� Subaru trailed off, not knowing what he even meant to say as Seishirou gently lay him back on the bed. The older man brushed away the loose black fringe again, and gently leaned over to place his lips on Subaru�s forehead. The young ohmyougi froze, his throat constricting in surprise.

�Don�t let anyone else under your defenses like this, Subaru-kun,� Seishirou advised, though Subaru wasn�t quite sure to whom he was referring as far as the previous person.

Subaru opened his mouth to ask, but his voice was replaced by a higher, more energetic voice announcing, �Tadaima! Seishirou-san, these better be your groceries. I swear, Subaru, if you got out of bed I�m gonna...� the girl continued to rant, her voice becoming muffled as she went into the kitchen, most likely to put away the food.

Seishirou just smiled a Subaru before standing, never even giving Subaru the chance to ask Seishirou what was going on. Subaru had a feeling that Seishirou could tell him, and something burned in the pit of his stomach, warning him he was not going to like the answer he got.

Seishirou ran his hands over the uneven bark of the giant sakura tree, the blood wiping off his fingers and gracing the bark with a slightly ruddy hue. The tree responded to the touch, almost as a human would, transferring warmth to Seishirou, only the tree�s transfer was magical in nature. Seishirou was suddenly very aware of every blade of grass and every bird in the sky as the magic intensified all of his senses.

�Aren�t we helpful tonight?� Seishirou mused, ignoring the tree�s sudden turn for feigning innocence and reached out with his sixth sense into the world around him. It wasn�t hard for him to find Subaru, particularly with the tree so nearby, all he had to do was metaphysically tug at the marks he made on Subaru�s hands.

It didn�t escape Seishirou, even for a minute, that this bond allowed him to feel into what Subaru was feeling both in his mind and in his body. He could tell that the young Sumeragi was cold, tired, confused, and in the process of walking somewhere, outside, with no shoes on. This was all probably a bad thing. Seishirou barely had the time to sigh before he realized where Subaru was heading. The trail that Subaru was tugging at, by following his curse, was leading him right to....

Seishirou quickly ducked behind the tree, just in time for Subaru to step into the light in front of it. Subaru clearly had not seen him, for he rather addressed the tree. �That�s odd. I don�t suppose you know who cursed me?� Subaru, of course, spoke to the tree using the polite form, which made Seishirou roll his eyes, and he could clearly feel the tree�s amusement through the bond he shared with the tree. �I guess not,� Subaru muttered.

Seishirou, despite the danger of being spotted, chanced a look around the corner at Subaru. He looked terrible. Whatever this curse was, it was getting progressively worse, and Subaru was staring to show very obvious signs of a curse. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his skin was not only paler than normal, but it had taken a very slightly yellow tint. He looked as though he had been vomiting, though Seishirou knew he hadn�t even been eating. Also, there was a clear bruise on his cheek. Many people, when cursed, would develop bruises for no apparent reason. Seishirou knew for a fact that Subaru was not an abused child... not physically, anyway.

Seishirou reached out with his magic and lightly touched into Subaru�s body. If he could find the mark of the curse, he might be able to figure out the type of the curse and maybe even what kind of person had cast it. The first thing he was able to find were the marks he put on the boy. Shaking his head, he continued to look, finally finding something at the base of Subaru�s spine on his lower back. It felt like... it felt like the tree�s magic, only a little different. Maybe that is why Subaru came to Ueno park?

�Seishirou-san,� Subaru said suddenly, drawing Seishirou�s mind back to the present. �Gomen,� he whispered, then he collapsed. Seishirou blinked at the sight, not sure quite what to do. Subaru must have thought he was about to die, or something. So why did he apologize to Seishirou? And, why did he think of him instead of his twin sister?

Seishirou could feel the tree�s smug smile at his thoughts, and he just shot a scowl at it. �Shut up,� he grumbled, striding over to the Sumeragi and picking up the small, frail, boy. Subaru was indeed asleep. Seishirou hugged him against his chest a little tighter, feeling the boy cling to him out of instinct. Something in Seishirou twisted again, as it had when he first realized Subaru was cursed. Again, the tree was acting smug. �Whatever,� Seishirou grumbled, leaving the tree behind.

Seishirou decided that taking Subaru to Hokuto�s apartment would be a bad idea because she didn�t know how to handle his condition, and would likely be upset with the young medium for leaving anyway. So, Seishirou climbed the stairs of his apartment building, gently nudging the door with his shoulder as he barely managed with the key. Once inside, he kicked off his shoes and lay Subaru on the couch. With a sigh, Seishirou plopped down in the adjacent comfy chair. �You really are troublesome.�

Subaru replied by rolling on his side with a cute noise. Seishirou reached out and gently stroked away dark locks of hair from the boy�s face. He really was a beautiful boy... it was no wonder that Seishirou had chosen to let him live. Seishirou leaned forward, kissing the patch of skin he�d exposed when he moved the boy�s hair. That feeling was back. Seishirou was not supposed to feel anything at all, and yet there was this twisting feeling in his gut. The Sakurazukamori frowned.

Seishirou retrieved two blankets, and put one over Subaru�s sleeping form. He then placed a few wards around the room, preventing further intrusion by the person who had placed the curse, and collapsed in the chair. He really didn�t have the energy to get ready for bed, and he would have rather watched over Subaru, anyway. So, Seishirou closed his eyes, pulling the other blanket over himself, and drifted off to sleep.

Subaru dreamed that night. In his dream, he was standing in the middle of the ocean, literally standing on the water. All he could see in any direction was the deep blue water. The sky was hazy and gray, except for one thing.... a light in the distance that kept flashing. Subaru couldn�t shake the feeling that maybe it was a lighthouse that would guide him to solid ground. So, Subaru followed the light that was guiding him across the dark water.

As he walked, the sky got darker and darker, and stars were becoming visible above him. But, it was also getting colder as he walked. He realized then that he was actually naked, and he suddenly didn�t want to find the light house. He lay down on the water, feeling the cool blue water cooling his skin.

Before long, his back was as ice. He couldn�t move, but it didn�t matter. He didn�t have anywhere to go, and no one would want him in his state. He just wanted to sink into the water and disappear. Maybe a shark would mistake him for a seal and eat him? At least then, he wouldn�t feel so alone and cold.

�Subaru-kun!� Suddenly, warm arms were around him, and someone was desperately hugging him as though he had returned from the dead. �God, Subaru, what do you think you are doing?� Subaru looked up at his savior and blinked in surprise. Seishirou was holding him, looking worried beyond belief. �Your skin is freezing. Here, take my coat.� Seishirou removed his sports coat, draping it over the naked boy. Surprisingly, the coat gave off enough warmth to make the ice subside.

�Thank you, Seishirou-san.� Subaru whispered, hugging the coat against him tighter. He just felt so warm, and so comfortable like that... he didn�t want it to end. He closed his eyes, smiling brightly.

�We need to get you to dry land,� Seishirou commented, taking Subaru�s hand. More warmth radiated from the touch. Subaru was in heaven. The meeting of their hands made all the fog disappear, and the sky began to gently rain sakura petals. �I�ll make sure you get better, Subaru-kun.�

�Thank you,� Subaru whispered again with a blush. But, no sooner had he said that than he was falling. �Seishirou-san!�

�You called?� Seishirou�s voice was sleepy and vaguely irritated. Subaru looked down to see that he was laying on top of Seishirou. The man looked tired, as though he had very little sleep, and very cute without his glasses on. He was holding one of Subaru�s hands in his, and the other hand was gently resting on the small of Subaru�s back.

�A�Anou....� Subaru blushed furiously.

�You fell off the couch,� Seishirou explained very plainly. �You were having a nightmare, so I sat by your side. Then, you fell on me suddenly.� Seishirou sat up, gently adjusting Subaru�s position so he was sitting on his lap. �That was after you flung the blanket half way to the kitchen.� He motioned in the general direction of the kitchen, where there was, indeed, a blanket on the floor.

�Why am I in your apartment?� Subaru squeaked in surprise. He scrambled off of Seishirou, not getting far because Seishirou did not release his hand. �Seishirou-san....�

�I had to take care of you last night. I worked late, and I saw you in Ueno park on my way home. I knew Hokuto would be upset if I brought you home in the state you were in, so I brought you here instead. You should probably call her and tell her where you are.� Seishirou yawned, finally releasing the hand he was clasping tightly.

�H�hai....� Subaru agreed, bowing his head to hide his blush. He wrung his gloved hands together in his lap. Seishirou, noticing this, put a hand on the boy�s shoulder. �Huh?� Subaru looked up at Seishirou, not expecting the proximity.

Seishirou was looking at him very seriously, his eyes dark with what appeared to be anger. �Call Hokuto-chan. Then, let�s find out who put this curse on you so we can reverse it.� Subaru nodded his agreement, but with some apprehension. He had never seen the look in Seishirou�s eyes before... the look that could kill.

To be continued.