*Sakura.* Subaru looked down at the delicate blossoms on the ground. They were clumped into little drifts of pink, and were so pervasive that nearly every inch of the grass under the trees was covered. Looking at them, he sighed. Taking out a cigarette, he considered lighting up, but decided against it. "It's not as if it matters... or helps."

"Talking to yourself, Subaru?"

Subaru jumped up in shock, and turned to find Duncan behind him. "How-"

Duncan smiled. "A little bird told me, and that's all I'm probably allowed to say." Duncan's smile dropped from his face to be replaced by a serious look. Sitting down at the grass, he asked, "What are you doing here?" The question seemed simple enough, but it was one that Subaru didn't want to answer.

"I'm here to admire the cherry blossoms... and to find out something." Subaru looked back at Duncan, expecting a challenge, a demand for more information.

But to his surprise, Duncan only nodded, and then stretched out into the grass. "Ok, as long as you're not about to do anything stupid."

Subaru looked up at the almost too-blue sky, and couldn't answer. He started to pull at the grass, loosing the blades to dance in the breeze. While doing so, he replied, "Duncan-san, please don't try to stop me. This isn't just for me... I don't think it ever was. It's for all those people who have felt pain because of him, all those people who will suffer as I did... And for you and Richie-san, too."

Duncan chuckled. "Don't worry about me or Richie. We can take care of ourselves- don't let that affect your judgment."

Subaru was silent for a moment, not answering. He gave Duncan a sad smile. "Duncan-san. I am sorry to say that if Sakurazukamori finds out about you two, about what you are, no immortal will be truly safe." Subaru gestured at the space around Duncan. "I never mentioned it, but I really don't need the 'buzz' to tell me who's an immortal. I think that it's because of these 'Quickenings' -- immortals' auras are very strange and beautiful to look at, and very distinctive. Seishirou-san probably knows what to look for."

Duncan had sat up, shock on his face. He knew that if a person like that knew... It would be worse than Horton and his bunch. "Subaru, that's even more reason for you not to fight, if you don't think that you can win. If you die, and come back to life, he'll be instantly suspicious. Then the cat's really out of the bag."

Subaru looked at the ground, and nodded. "I know. But if I don't fight, you and a lot of other people are going to be in danger. I may not be much against him, but I'm the only one that even stands a chance. No one else would even come close." He gave a bitter smile, staring at the backs of his hands. "After all, I am the most interesting prey that he's ever hunted. That should mean something..."

Duncan took in both Subaru's melancholy expression and the steel underneath it. "So, you really have decided. All right, I'm not going to try to stop you. But I am going to stick around." He held up a hand, forestalling any objection from Subaru. "I'm not going to go, so don't even try to argue." Subaru nodded, and then stood up.

In a wistful voice, Subaru asked, "Duncan-san... I'd like to know something. Do you think that immortality makes a person very different? I have always been different... It would be nice to think that I was at least mortal -- that I was not so apart from everyone else."

Duncan closed his eyes, and tried to articulate his thoughts. "Different? Of course we're different- we do come back to life after we die. But we're still human, even if we're not mortal. We feel pain, and love, and hate. We make all the idiotic mistakes that regular people do, and suffer the consequences. It's when we believe ourselves more than human that we become something terrible."

Remembering Mary, remembering Immortals who believed in their divine mission, Duncan couldn't help but feel sadness for them. "Those people -- their grip on reality is so loose that something like immortality can knock them over the edge. We always have to remember that no matter what we are, we aren't gods. We need to use our strengths to survive, instead of letting our weaknesses push us down."

Subaru nodded, and stood up also. "Thank you, Duncan-san. My mind is clearer now. Say farewell to Richie-san for me, if I do not return." Turning to a clump of trees a distance away from a single, solitary cherry tree, Subaru asked, "Would you please stay there? I think that it would be best if Sakurazukamori did not see you."

Duncan clapped Subaru on the shoulder. "Be well, and win. I don't need another sword." Subaru nodded, before turning to face the tree and the darkening sky.

/Food!/
/Yes... very soon./

Seishirou shook his head a little as the sending from his partner rang in his mind for a moment. One of the things he kept forgetting was how strong its voice got when he got within visual range of it. *Ah, and there is Subaru-kun...* He had never been one to neglect his own protections, so Seishirou did a quick scan of the surrounding area.

*Others? An ordinary person... and the protector. And a few near the perimeter -- none to be concerned about.* Seishirou gave a cold smile. *Does he think that he can sneak up on me after Subaru-kun is dead? I was going to eliminate him anyway -- how convenient it is to have both prey congregate in the same place.* Taking his sunglasses off in anticipation of the fight, he gazed on his tree for a moment.

*Subaru-kun... you will hold off the hunger for longer than any other...* For a moment, he allowed himself to indulge in what could be if he were free of the tree's incessant hunger. Shaking his head a little at that impossible wondering, he focused on the business at hand.

"Subaru-kun."

Subaru heard the soft voice from behind him, and slowly turned to face his enemy, his love. "Hello, Seishirou-san." Subaru saw the smile, the deceitful smile that made Sakurazukamori seem human, and couldn't help feeling pain in his heart. Even to this day, there was the slight, insidious hope that...

"Still so polite?"

Subaru nodded. "What else do I have left, besides that? All other traces of Hokuto's little brother were destroyed when you killed her. The facade of living was all that was left, and even that was deception, a mask. I have no life except for hunting you." Subaru looked at his hunter with a whimsical expression, then bowed to him with exaggerated respect. "Now, if we may get started- I do have to eat dinner soon..."

Seishirou gazed at him for a moment, wondering what had prompted this new arrogance. "Subaru-kun. Are you that frightened of dying? I would have thought that you would have gotten used to the idea by now."

Subaru couldn't help himself. In almost a fit of hysteria, he started to laugh. "Oh, oh yes -- I- I'm so scared- scared of death..." Subaru gave up trying to fit words between the laughs that wracked his body and let himself go. Then, wiping his eyes, he smiled at Seishirou. "Seishirou-san, don't worry about it. You wouldn't understand." His expression was almost triumphant, proclaiming that he had a secret, one that Seishirou would not be told of.

Seishirou looked at all of this with a little contempt. *You're that scared, Subaru-kun... I had thought that you would be able to face your death with a little dignity...* Seeing that his prey had gotten a hold of himself, Seishirou asked, "Are you ready?"

His question asked many, many things at once, and made Subaru pause. Quietly, all levity forgotten, Subaru replied, "Yes. I have been ready for this for too long. It is time to finish it." At an unspoken signal, both of them readied their powers. But right before the start of the battle, Subaru felt compelled to whisper something. "Seishirou-san... someone told me once that those who have lost their humanity are the ones who believe themselves superior. I tell you this: If I do not win, someone else will step in and take my place. Monsters like Sakurazukamori will be destroyed."

Seishirou nodded his understanding in an indulgent manner, and smiled. "Very good, Subaru-kun. I was wondering where your self-righteousness had gone. Still alive and well, I see -- that is, until after this fight." Seishirou lifted his hand slowly, readying himself to launch his first attack. "Goodbye, Subaru-kun."

The quiet reply. "Farewell, Seishirou-san."

Duncan looked through the cover of the foliage to see the two standing, talking. Subaru looked unusually calm... *I wonder what that little discussion on immortality was about. I hope it helped.* Looking around his little area, Duncan noticed someone else trying to hide a few yards away. *Who-*

"Of course. You would be Subaru's watcher, then. Am I correct?"

At these words, the person who had been trying to hide came out from the concealing brush. The Watcher brushed himself off and looked at Duncan with assessing eyes. "And you are Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod. Am I correct?" Duncan nodded, and invited the Watcher to sit next to him with a gesture."What's your name?"

The blond man answered, "Imonoyama Nokoru, and you are mistaken if you believe that I am one of the Watchers. I am merely serving in that capacity for this particular case. Sumeragi's assigned Watcher is one of us, you see, and he believed that I would find more..."

"So... you're part of the organization that is subverting the Watchers, then?"

Nokoru shook his head, while watching the unfolding drama between the two onmyoujis. "Subverting? What do you mean? We just make sure that Japan is safe, along with the rest of the world. Some facts just should not be disseminated for the safety of all. We merely try to guide this country in the right direction."

"Why is Subaru so important?"

Nokoru paused, considering. Finally, he replied, "As a head of such a clan, he is bound to be both different and special. But his involvement with Sakurazukamori is what makes him truly notable. That, and a few interesting prophecies that don't seem to be coming true -- that's good for us, in general. After all, foretellings of the apocalypse never leave the world in very good shape."

//Kaichou!//

As Duncan gazed at him with curiosity, Nokoru took out a head-set, placing it on his head.

//What is it, Suoh?//
//Are you sure that it's all right for you to be there? Considering your lack of -//
//Suoh, I'm not going to be fighting. Don't worry about me!//
//It's just that we're not close enough to protect you-//
//Tell Akira not to worry, either. I've got an Immortal to protect me if all else fails.//
//What?!//
//Don't worry about it, Suoh. Nokoru out.//

Nokoru gave him a rueful grin. "I'm sorry I used you as a shield, but Suoh does worry about me too much." Duncan decided not to say a word, and went back to watching the standoff. He forgot all about the strange young man as the actual combat started...

"Is Kaichou all right?"

Suoh nodded to his younger friend. "He sounds like his usual self, Akira. But still, how can we not worry about him?"

Akira nodded, and sighed. "The only reason we're not with him is because it would draw unnecessary attention to him... I was ratjer surprised when he took this mission for himself -- he knows how limited he is in a fighting capacity. Still, he seems very interested in this Sumeragi -- is it because of the prophecies about the end of the world?"

Suoh nodded solemnly. "Kaichou knows something that he's not telling us." Then he smiled at Akira. "But we should trust Kaichou, right? He'll tell us if we need to know. I just want to know what he's doing with an Immortal..."

Akira looked at him in confusion. "Another Immortal? This is getting muddled..."

Suoh sighed, putting one hand behind his neck. "Still, Kaichou is there, so he'll tell us what happened later..."

Chapter 10

The air around them started to become charged with energy, with lightning crackling in the space around the two of them. The silence between them stretched out as both held out ofudas mirroring the others' -- Subaru with his white, Seishirou with his black. Each gazed out and waited for the first move to be made.

Subaru smiled inwardly. *This time, I'm not going to be stupid... I'll wait as long as I have to...*

Seishirou looked at his opponent's set stance, and assessed Subaru's anxiety level. *Do not think the first attack is a disadvantage, Subaru-kun. There are more tricks than you know-*

Seishirou attacked, flinging his talismans toward Subaru in a speed no ordinary mortal could even think to counter. Seishirou's ofudas flew toward him, transforming into black birds of prey that cawed in ravenous hunger at the sight of the enemy. Subaru's hands came up quickly, and countered the black flood of predators with birds of his own that were pure white in color.

Scores of birds on both sides were ripped to shreds, only to be replaced by more. Soon, the air was filled with floating pieces of black and white paper, as well as bloody carcasses that had not yet transformed back into their primary component of paper. Seishirou saw that some of his messengers of death had gotten through, and the small smile on his face got just a little bigger.

Shaking his head, Seishirou sighed. "Subaru-kun, that you are still this weak... What can I say?" The faintly pitying voice made Subaru's counterattack that much stronger and wilder, easily blocked by a simple shield on which all the white birds dashed out their almost-lives on.

As the rather uneven match continued, Seishirou couldn't help but feel just a bit unbalanced. *What is this that I feel? Excitement? No, not that. I know how this will turn out, after all... Something more akin to... sadness? No, that's too strong a word -- a little unhappy, perhaps. After all, this game was so entertaining, But all games must end, and this one is about finished.*

Nokoru's eyes were a bit disturbed as he watched the death-match. Every once in a while, he looked around at the damage the park was sustaining and little sighs would escape. "It's too bad."

Duncan looked at him in askance at this remark, said during a lull in the fight. "What?"

Nokoru gestured to the two. "The fact that Sumeragi is not going to win. It's obvious that he's losing and that's 's going to be a lot of trouble once Sakurazukamori finds out about the Immortals..."

Duncan looked back at the fight, which was a mess of pyrotechnic chaos. "Does he really seem to be losing? Something about the way he's been acting almost makes me think he has something planned... I've seen that kind of expression before." Duncan gazed at the scene, his memories filled with too many memories of stupid mistakes made by people with that kind of wild look on their faces...

"Sumeragi... he may have an ace up his sleeve, but I don't know whether it's going to be enough. I wish Suoh was here -- he's better than I am at assessing battle strategy... or Akira -- he's good at discovering and seeing through subterfuge."

Duncan smiled a little at the forlorn expression on Nokoru's face. "Are they really that important to you?" Duncan was surprised at the fierce answer.

"Of course. They are my closest friends, and my protectors. Without them, I would probably be dead already. It's not easy keeping safe as an Imonoyama, especially if one has no athletic capabilities like I do."

Duncan gave him a curious look. "Are the Imonoyamas all that powerful? I've never heard of you..."

Nokoru smiled. "Good -- we try not to be too well known to the general public. Of course, Tokyo and CLAMP Campus in particular are exceptions, but my family is extremely powerful. It's one of the reasons why I'm able to chase around my pet theories while other people are becoming salarymen." Looking back at the fight, Nokoru sighed. "Though my family may regret letting me have such freedom when they find out what I'm doing..."

Subaru staggered back as he was hit in the arm by the beak of a particularly persistent spirit-bird. On his knees, he pulled power from inside himself for a shield and managed to put one up as more attacks came descending upon him. *Shit- I'm losing too fast. Not yet -- I'm not ready-* He raised his right hand and called for his power, making blades of wind which shredded the birds back to the bits of black paper that they had been originally.

"Seishirou-san." Subaru looked up at Seishirou with a half-grin on his face. "Is that the best you can do? Sakurazukamori, you _are_ just toying with your prey, right? Or should I be disappointed? Can this be all that the Guardian can do to attack?" His tone was challenging, as if bored at the play.

Seishirou looked at the younger man on his knees in front of him, who was still managing to maintain appearences... *Subaru-kun, what happened to you? You're different... it's as if you know something.* Looking at the strange expression on Subaru's face, Seishirou decided not to do the quick kill that he had planned on. Instead, he stood down his powers a little, and gave Subaru time to stand.

Smiling down at the him, Seishirou decided to let the young man try his trick. After all, what fun would it be if there was no challenge? Right now, Subaru was his too easily. He would allow his prey one last, frantic struggle. *Subaru-kun, take your best shot... you'll find that Sakurazukamori is not so easily defeated...*

/Now!/
/Shh- I know... Soon, my partner./

*You will find that the tree will not be so easily sated either... you will keep it fed longer than you know. I feel the potential for the power that could have been, and yet never was within you. Too bad -- it would have been interesting to have an actual challenge, instead of this playing...* Seishirou looked at Subaru, who was still kneeling on his knees, staring up at him with a look in his eyes...

"Seishirou-san. I have to ask one thing -- only one thing... Was there even a chance that I would win the bet?" This was asked in a wistful manner, as the young man let the last few pieces of white paper in his hand float into the wind around him, where it turned into a flock that seemed to be held in reserve.

Seishirou gave him a cold look, utterly the hunter. "What wager is feasible without a little risk? I could have, perhaps. I had no idea when we made the bet, you and I -- I had been young in my power, still rebelling against-"

Seishirou stopped, and then smiled. He reached out a hand toward the tree, and the tree rustled back at him. "Not anymore. I know now that such a thing is impossible, so perhaps you had no chance. That may be the only reason why I let you live this long. Honestly, Subaru-kun. Was that the best you can do? You're already tired, damaged... there is not much entertainment in this..."

Subaru gave a weary nod, as he clambered back to his feet. The nod, weary as it may have been, also hid his face for the moment an almost triumphant look crossed it. "Why don't we find out how much I've been holding back?" Subaru tossed his head back, with a defiant on his face. "Come on-" As the fight continued, Subaru silently hoped that the power he had in reserve was enough...

"Kaichou!" The whisper came from above Nokoru and Duncan. Duncan glanced up, and saw two young men on the branches of two trees that were part of their shelter and cover. "

Suoh? Akira? What are you two doing here?"

Suoh jumped down from his tree, followed by Akira. "Kaichou, there was nothing for us to do but wait at the edge of the park. Did you really expect us to do such a thing when we see the sights and sounds of a fierce battle erupting?"

Akira added, as he came forward toward Nokoru, "It was impossible for us to really stay there- how could we protect you if we were too far away to see you? It was driving Takamura-sempai especially crazy..."

Suoh gave Akira a rather annoyed look, but then smiled and shook his head. "Well, perhaps just a little, Akira. But you weren't in much better shape..."

Suoh's smile faded away as he went next to Nokoru. "Kaichou, what's going on?"

Nokoru, who had been almost rude in ignoring the antics of the other two, said in an intense voice, "Sumeragi seems to be losing his fight." Suoh and Akira were silent as they watched what seemed like a skewed battle between the two men.

Finally, Akira looked away, and saw Duncan standing a few feet away. Akira smiled and bowed at him. "Are you the Immortal Takamura-sempai said was with Kaichou? We have been very rude, haven't we? It's just that we were so concerned about Kaichou- he may be our leader, but he's also prone to getting himself in trouble... and this particular case doesn't have anything to do with a female..."

Duncan gave the young man a strange look. "What does having a woman involved- no, I don't want to know why. I just don't."

Akira grinned a little, and said, "Don't worry about it- ah-" Duncan introduced himself with his usual line, to which Akira replied, "MacLeod-san, I am Ijyuin Akira, and that is Takamura Suoh. We are very glad that you would have protected Kaichou in our absence. Thank you."

Duncan looked at the rather innocent seeming young man, and decided not to say what he would actually done. "Ok... so, is Imonyama very important?"

Akira nodded, and while looking at Nokoru, said, "The Imonoyama family... it is so powerful in assets and people that it's slightly frightening to think of. Certainly, if they weren't so devoted to Japan and the world, I don't know what I'd think of them."

Suoh came over to the two of them. "Ah, MacLeod-san... have you noticed anything strange about Kaichou? Something odd?" Akira gave him a questioning look, to which Suoh said, "He seems... different. I was suspicious when he wanted to come alone -- and when I started to talk to him, he was so intense and far away. Something's going on..."

"Suoh, if you have a question, you could try asking me. I would probably tell you something." Nokoru's voice was tinged with a little laughter as he turned to face the three.

"Ka-kaichou... I mean, it's just that-" Suoh blushed a little, and then smiled back a little ruefully. "It's just that we want to protect you, and right now-"

Akira jumped in, saying in an unusually serious voice, "Right now, Kaichou, we're in a place where we really couldn't protect you, no matter how hard we tried. We are not a match for Sakurazukamori. Please, Kaichou. Why do you have to be here?"

Nokoru looked at his two friends, and then at the curious immortal who was listening into their conversation. Nodding, he motioned for all of them to turn back to assess the fight. "1999. It is a date that has many people thinking of the apocalypse, including some of the most powerful magicians and seers in Japan. The Imonoyama family has the blessing, or curse- whatever you want to call it- to be one of the families with such convictions."

Pointing to the dueling magicians, Nokoru continued. "There are prophecies, signs that point out the unchangeable fate of a select few once a certain decision is made. It is supposed to be unstoppable, once it start, but this fight is something that is not supposed to be happening now. They were fated to finish this in 1999, but... I am realizing why even the prophecies cannot always work."

Looking sadly at the younger onmyouji, Nokoru slowly closed his eyes. "Sometimes fate can be changed, for better or worse. There is too much there between the two of them. Two corpses, truly -- one of his sister, the other of his younger self. Love, hate -- those emotions cannot be controlled. Perhaps the seven will be six, now."

Nokoru opened his eyes and chuckled a little bitterly. "I suppose this should mean something to us, the people who thought that they could control such events as the end of the world. Now, we're as blind as the rest. After all, who knows what's going to happen once these two invalidate the prophecies? Each has a role to play... roles that they will never fulfill."

Nokoru looked up as he felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Suoh gave him a smile, which Akira echoed as he stood behind both of them. "Kaichou -- we will be there for you, no matter what. We never knew about the prophecy in the first place, so it doesn't mean much to us."

Akira nodded, giving Nokoru a solemn look. "Takamura-sempai is right, Kaichou. We will support you in whatever you need, so please don't keep such things from us."

Smiling, Nokoru gave each of his friends a hug before he went back to watching. "Let's see this through- I want to be able to tell his grandmother what happened, at the very least..."

• Email Author
• On to Inner Strength: Part 11
• Back to Inner Strength index