Thousand Things I Hate About You
Chapter 1
Author's Note:There's not much to say about this story. Warnings, maybe: It contains bad language, but not what you think. Bad language means I'm bad at English ;-)
The characters are a bit OOC maybe, but this story isn't to be taken as X-canon anyway ;-)
I know I'm not good at writing comedy, but I'd be happy if someone likes it. I've plenty of ideas (not really "thousand", but still!) to continue, but anyfunny or crazy idea is welcome as well :-)
Disclaimer: The characters in this story of course belong to CLAMP.
"He won't come down." Sorata sat down on the couch next to Arashi and Karen.
"Why not?" Karen looked at him concerned. "He's been up there inside this uncomfortable room ever since…"
"I dunno." Sorata shrugged. "Must be tough for him."
"Tough?" Karen blinked. "I thought he finally got his revenge. Or wasn't the Sakurazukamori the guy who killed his sister?"
"At least that's what the rumours say. I don't think he ever told anyone about it."
Kamui listened to their conversation silently. 'He told me about it.'
:Who's that:
:My one and only sister. And Sakurazuka Seishiro-san. Both people, who were very dear to me. Especially Seishiro-san was a very important person in my life.:
'Seeing him, sitting there inside this dismal room, grieving… it stings my heart. Subaru… I want to help you. I want to do something for you. But I don't know what. Words won't help you, I guess.'
"What's wrong with you, Kamui?" Sorata's voice brought Kamui back to reality. "You're so silent."
Kamui lifted his head. "It's nothing, Sorata", he replied calmly.
"Anyway." Karen tried to get back to the topic. "Why the hell did Sumeragi-san want to bring that guy here after he almost killed him at the Rainbow Bridge? And why does he keep on sitting next to his bed without coming down, without going out, without eating any proper food?"
"Maybe it gives him kind of satisfaction to see his sister's murderer suffer and die…", Sorata suggested.
"No way!", Yuzuriha cried determinedly and threw a disappointed glance at Sorata. "Subaru-san is such a kind person! He has such a good heart! He would never do something like that!"
"Yuzuriha-chan…" Karen shook her head. "I guess when someone does something as bad as killing your own sister… No matter how kind you are, you hate that person. With all your heart. Or at least that's what I'd do."
"Same goes for me", commented Arashi. "I feel sorry for Subaru-san."
'Hate?' Kamui turned around. 'Probably one starts to hate the person who has done such a thing. No matter how dear that person was to you. But… when I think back to the Rainbow Bridge, how his blood stained your snow-white coat, how you clutched that almost dead body… Was that late remorse? Or why did you hurt him in the first place?'
"It might sound heartless, but…" It was again Karen who broke the silence. "What if the Sakurazukamori actually survives? We would have one of our strongest enemies right inside our barriers."
"The princess said it was okay. Though I'm not quite sure what she meant by that", Sorata explained.
"Maybe she has seen the Sakurazukamori's death in her dreams", Yuzuriha suggested.
"Whatever", Kamui said suddenly. "I'm going up to look after Subaru. I don't want him to be alone with this guy if he actually wakes up."
The darkness of the room Kamui entered seemed to drown him completely. Only after a little while the contrasts became clearer to Kamui's eyes.
The curtains were open, however hardly any moonlight fell through the windows.
In the corner at the end of the room was a rather large bed. The one, the wounded Sakurazukamori was lying there right now. Subaru was sitting on the chair in front of the bed, just exactly like Kamui had left him half an hour ago. It almost seemed as if Subaru had turned into stone.
"Subaru?", Kamui asked softly, in case the man had fallen asleep.
"Kamui" Subaru's voice sounded dark, somehow exhausted. "Why are you back? You should go to bed, it's already late."
"It's you who should go to bed, Subaru", Kamui answered. "You have already been sitting here for two days; you never come down or even move at all. We're all worried about you." He looked at the floor, because suddenly he was unable to meet Subaru's eyes. "I'm worried about you", he added.
Subaru smiled softly. "Thank you very much, Kamui. But there is no need to worry about me. I'm all right."
'Why are you doing this, Subaru? Why do you want him to survive? Are you so kind-hearted that you even wish for your sister's murderer to live a happy life?'
Kamui felt his heartbeat getting faster. 'Subaru…' He took one step towards the chair. "You should at least eat something…" He didn't know anymore what to say. He didn't know anything anymore.
Suddenly Subaru turned around and stood up. They were so close al of a sudden.
Kamui swallowed. He prayed with all his heart that the flush on his cheek was not visible due to the darkness in the room. 'So kind… So tall… So… handsome… no, so beautiful…' "I-I just b-brought you some… uhm…"
"Thank you very much, Kamui. I'll eat them right away, okay?" He smiled.
"Y-yeah!"
Their fingers touched slightly as Subaru took the plate from Kamui's hands.
Kamui felt electricity shocking through his body. He turned around as fast as possible. 'What the hell is wrong with you, Kamui! He is ten years older than you! What should he want with a child like you? And above all, he is a guy. That alone should be enough.'
Subaru cleared the plate greedily. Just now he realized how hungry he had been. 'It's good to get some energy back', he thought. But on the other hand, he could not have afforded to leave the room just to get some food. He should be thankful to Kamui. After all, the boy was really concerned about him and had been sitting next to him in front of Seishiro-san's bed most of the time. Without asking any questions, which Subaru had found quite astonishing. He smiled. Kamui really was a good-hearted boy. What a pity, that he had to bear such a cruel fate.
"Thanks, Kamui. That was good."
"Uhm, no problem…" He took the plate back from the other man.
"And now I really want you to go to bed, Kamui." Subaru ruffled through Kamui's hair. "You've done enough for me, okay? And I'm very grateful to you."
"O-okay…"
A pause.
As fast as possible, Kamui rushed out of the room and shut the door behind him. Crimson-red, he leaned against the wall. 'Oh my god… I'm in love with a man, who's ten years older than me…"
As the evening got older, the Dragons of Heaven were gathered in the mansion's large living room. All except Subaru and Kamui.
Yuzuriha and Sorata had convinced Karen to play cards, while Seiichiro (who had joined the Dragons of Heaven after work) and Arashi were sitting on the couch.
"Is everything alright?", Arashi asked. "Concerning your family, I mean."
Seiichiro smiled. "Yeah, I guess so. I haven't talked to them ever since… But I guess they're doing fine. When all this is over, then I'll go back…" He suddenly seemed lost in thoughts. "Then I'll explain everything…"
Arashi looked away. 'I really hope your story has an happy end, Aoki-san…'
Suddenly there was a scream from the table. "Sorata-san cheats!" Yuzuriha jumped on her feet.
Karen chuckled. "It's not cheating, Yuzuriha-chan. It's tactic."
Sorata, surprised about Karen's support, started to laugh. "Yeah. It's all about…"
The door opened.
"Subaru-san!" Five faces turned around.
"Good evening" Subaru said politely. Silently, he crossed the room and took a bottle of water. Obviously, he had no intention of satisfying the curious gazes that followed him.
Karen cleared her throat inconspicuously. "It's good to see you again, Sumeragi-san", she finally said. "We were concerned about you."
Subaru put the bottle down. "I'm sorry for having you worried", he said in his quiet, yet somehow troubled voice.
"So what about the Sakurazukamori?" Sorata put the cards down. "Is he… dead?"
Subaru shook his head. "His vital functions somehow started to work again. I got the doctors, but they send my away."
Seiichiro threw a meaningful glance at Karen. The Sakurazukamori was their most powerful enemy right after the other Kamui. His death would have been a great relief for all of them.
Karen sent another glance back to Seiichiro. 'He should have been killed when we had the chance to do it…'
Sorata tried to read something in Subaru's eyes. But there was nothing there. Not the slightest hint of any emotion. 'He must be very disappointed. His nemesis survived, although he was so close to death.' "I'm sorry for you, Subaru-san. But right now, he's still weak, so…"
Subaru didn't understand. "I'm not sad, Arisugawa-kun. That's just… the way it is. Maybe destiny, maybe not. It's all going to turn out the way it is supposed to be."
"True." Arashi stood up. She looked at Subaru closely. He really was… different from the other Seals. His character… His way of thinking… Maybe all of them had a hard fate right ahead, but Subaru certainly was the only one who had his hard fate already behind him. "So what now? What's going to happen with the Sakurazukamori now?"
"I don't know", Subaru answered. "That depends on whether he can be saved or not."
There was a long silence after that. A silence which had 'hopefully he doesn't survive' written all over.
Abruptly the door was opened again. It was the doctor.
Everyone inside the room held their breath. Especially Subaru.
The doctor wiped the sweat off his forehead. "He… is awake."
And the next thing the seals realized was a white figure rushing through the door and up the stairs.
"Seishiro-san!" Breathlessly Subaru arrived at Seishiro's bed.
Seishiro really was awake now. He had his eyes closed, but Subaru could feel his consciousness.
"Do you want me to thank you, or what?", Seishiro suddenly asked calmly.
"I want to scold you", Subaru replied quickly.
Seishiro opened his eyes questioningly. "Scold me?", he repeated almost amusedly.
"Yes. Saying things like that just the moment before you almost died." Subaru narrowed his eyes. "You did that on purpose, right? You knew that by telling me that you loved me, I wouldn't have any other choice than to do everything in oder to save your life."
"That's not true." Seishiro turned his head to look at Subaru. And for the first time after their battle, for the first time after his confession, he saw this beautiful face again. He smiled. 'The next chance you give me, I will clutch forever with both my hands.' "Are you mad at me?" Seishiro asked hesitatingly.
Subaru took one step closer towards the bed. "I am. But who knows what the future brings."
"Does that mean you give me a second chance?"
Subaru looked up. "What!"
Seishiro sighed and turned away. "Oh, for God's sake, just forget it."
Subaru said nothing. After a few seconds he turned around and walked to the door. "A second chance?", he murmured. "I don't know yet. I guess it depends on what kind of person you really are after all. So maybe…"
"Maybe, huh?" Seishiro looked at him again. "Where are you going?"
Subaru turned around one last time, and to Seishiro's surprise he was actually smiling. "I'm going to my room. I've been sitting next to your bed for the last two days and that's why I'm incredibly tired."
"I see." Seishiro couldn't help but smile as well. Once again he realized how beautiful Subaru actually was. "Thank you, Subaru-kun. And sleep well."
"Good night, Seishiro-san."
Seishiro just had fallen asleep himself, as someone pushed the door again.
"Subaru?", a voice whispered.
Seishiro opened his eyes. "No, I'm not Subaru. Who's there?" He threw a quick glance at the door. "You? What do you want?"
Kamui looked at the bed, startled. 'This guy's awake?' But Subaru was gone. Somehow Kamui had not been able to fall asleep. He wanted to see Subaru. Just to hear a few words from him. He had been so sure to meet him here. Disappointed, Kamui looked away. "It's nothing", he murmured.
"Subaru-kun is not here, obviously", Seishiro said, hardly amused. "What do you want from him anyway?"
"Well, I'm sorry, but I think it's none of your business." Kamui replied slightly annoyed.
Seishiro sighed. "You don't have to get so angry all of a sudden." He turned his head to face Kamui. "Or could it be…?"
Kamui countered his gaze challenging.
Seishiro started to laugh pityingly. "You've got a crush on him."
Kamui's face became red in one instant. "What!"
"Poor kid." Seishiro couldn't stop laughing. "What should Subaru-kun want with a little child like you? You're what, nine years, ten years younger than him?"
Kamui took offense. "Better than ten years older than him!", he replied angrily.
Seishiro wasn't sure if he could trust his ears.
The boy clenched his fist. "What should he want with a gramps like you!"
"G-gramps…?" Seishiro sat up. "Why you…"
"You made him suffer hell, and now you simply return and think you can have him again?"
"Good gracious, boy, you don't have any idea, do you. You don't have a slightest clue of all the things which happened between us. What connects us. And I can assure you, Subaru-kun isn't interested in little boys at all." Seishiro shook his head.
Kamui turned around and slammed the door behind him. 'I'm not going to leave things like that, be warned.' At the thought of the Sakurazukamori, Kamui felt his urge to be with Subaru getting thousand times stronger. 'I'm gonna get him, and then I want to see your face again, my friend.' Kamui closed his eyes and walked back to his room.
"Kamui!" It was Subaru's voice.
Kamui looked around him.
Subaru was just closing the bathroom door behind him. "I thought you were already asleep."
"Subaru!" Kamui's heart began racing again. All thoughts of the Sakurazukamori, all his anger was wiped away. Happily he began running towards Subaru, past the Sakurazukamori's room…
"Kamui!" It was Subaru-kun's voice, no doubt about that.
The thought of Subaru-kun and that little brat meeting made Seishiro feel sick. 'No, certainly not, my little friend…'
His injuries were still grave, but a certain feeling inside him gave him unexpected strength. 'Can this be… jealousy…?' He got up. The carpet felt strange under his feet. Unfamiliar.
He toiled to reach the door.
"I thought you were already asleep", Subaru's voice sounded across the hallway again.
"Subaru!" That was the little brat again.
Seishiro felt sudden anger rise inside him at the sound of the kid's voice. 'He really thinks he can…'
He closed his eyes maliciously. Inside his mind he could feel the young boy running towards Subaru-kun. Totally lost in concentration, Seishiro waited until Kamui was just about to pass his door, and put his hand on the door knob.
'Now.'
He pushed the door open.
There was a hard collision and he could hear Kamui cry out.
Seishiro put on a puzzled expression as he stepped into the hallway. Innocently he looked behind the door, where a whining Kamui was lying on the floor, holding his bleeding nose.
"Kamui!" Subaru ran towards them, shocked.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, poor boy!", Seishiro said, genuinely concerned, while inside he was feeling great mischievousness and satisfaction.
'You bastard', Kamui thought, while Subaru and Seishiro were helping him to get on his feet again.
"Are you hurt?", Subaru asked with a worried expression.
"Oh, it's my fault!" Seishiro regretted. "I only wanted to get some water, but I should have been more careful."
Subaru shook his head. "That's not true. You're still weak yourself. It could have happened to anyone."
Kamui threw a deadly glance at Seishiro. 'So you really want war, don't you? You're gonna pay for that.' He tried to wipe away the blood from his face, thinking about how well a few little nasty slugs would feel inside the Sakurazukamori's bed and shoes… 'I swear, I'll do that.'