All characters are property of CLAMP. Standard disclaimers apply.
Tsuriai*
(Prologue)
An "X" Fanfic
Presented by Harem of Doomed Bishies
*meaning: Equilibrium, Symmetry
Sorata knocked gently on the door but, just as he had expected, there was no response. Taking a deep breath, he turned the knob and entered the room.
The room was dimly lit. Other than the pale light of the morning sun streaming through the gaps between the curtains, there was no other source of illumination. However, he could still make out the two still silhouettes in the room. One was resting on the bed, while the other was keeping vigil by his side.
Sorata approached them, his footsteps echoing loudly in the silent room. He took a quick check on the Sumeragi on the bed. The good eye was still a glassy blankness, clouded and unrevealing, as if the spirit that resided within the body was no longer there. The monk sighed and gently placed a supporting hand on Kamui's shoulder.
"You can't go on like this," he told the younger Seal. "You've not slept nor eaten for almost two days. And there's school..."
"I'm not attending school anymore," Kamui interrupted. Sorata frowned as Kamui continued, "I can't go on pretending that everything's normal. There is not much time till the Promised Day and I need to be stronger than what I am now.
"If only I had been stronger at Rainbow Bridge, Subaru would not have become like this."
"Kamui, it was not your fault."
"It was my fault!" Kamui said, his voice adamant. "Kotori died because of me. I didn't save Aunt Tokiko, and I left Saiki behind. I couldn't protect Subaru. I can't protect anyone because I am so useless!"
His voice began to crack as he spoke those last words. Under the faint light, Sorata thought he saw shimmering tears rolling down Kamui's face. He gave the boy's shoulder a light squeeze and then said, "If you were at fault, then so am I. I made a bold promise to protect and to help you, but I've failed miserably."
Kamui did not reply. Instead, Sorata could now hear gentle sobbing as the boy's shoulders trembled.
"Come on, take a break. You need to eat something. If not for your sake, then at least for Subaru-san's sake. You wouldn't want him to see you like this, would you?"
Kamui shook his head but replied, "I want to stay here a little longer. I need to find a way to bring Subaru back, no matter what it takes."
Sorata nodded in understanding. "All right. I'll get Arashi to send up some food. But I still hope that you will reconsider your decision to stop attending classes."
Kamui turned around to look at Sorata firmly in the eyes. "I shall. Once everything is over."
*
Dark Hinoto smiled. She gazed upon her other self, now trapped within her dreamscape, and said, "One of the Dragons of Earth is dead, and a Dragon of Heaven is gone.
"But if Kamui upsets the Balance to bring him back, then another Seal will have to pay."
"No!" Hinoto screamed, but there was no one to hear her.
A/N:
This story was written shortly after the Rainbow Bridge chapter appeared in Asuka. It's also the longest of my fics. While not the first of my writings, it has a special place in my memories, and I hope you'll like it too.