X from Asuka 1, 2001
Color page: A rather scary pastel-style picture of Kusanagi.
The bridge is still falling.
And with it falls another kekkai. The area around Rainbow Bridge explodes. Unleashed energy crackles into the air like lightning in dragon shape.
Meanwhile, in the dreamscape, a tear falls from Kakyou's cheek and shatters. His eyes are closed against visions of destruction; he sees only the two figures before him acting out a scene from the past.
Kakyou: ...Hokuto...
[Dream sequence]
Hokuto stands in darkness, surrounded by swirling sakura petals. The wind in the maboroshi blows the tassles on the Sumeragi shikifuku she wears.
Hokuto: You broke your promise.
Seishirou: Which promise would that be?
Hokuto: Didn't I tell you? "Don't take Subaru anywhere far away from me."
Seishirou: Subaru-kun is in his own room right now.
Hokuto: But you've taken away his heart, and it may never be able to return.
She stares at the Sakurazukamori with fierce eyes. He smiles back.
Hokuto: So I'm going to cast a spell on you.
She lifts her head with determination.
Hokuto: You're the Sakurazukamori. You always kill your chosen prey. But... I will not... let you... kill Subaru. I swear I will not let you kill him.
Smiling, Seishirou closes his eyes.
Seishirou: You can't destroy me with your power.
Hokuto: I know that.
Hokuto: Still, there's a spell that only I can cast.
Seishirou stops smiling, and a slight crease forms in his brow.
Hokuto: I've seen the true figure of the Sakurazukamori now. ...So... kill me.
Seishirou raises his hand for the strike. Clenching his eyes shut, Kakyou flinches as though feeling the blow himself.
Hokuto crumples as her blood soaks her killer's hand.
Seishirou looks down at her.
Seishirou: If you die, I think Subaru-kun will suffer.
Hokuto: Yes... but...
Her breathing is labored. Blood spatters.
Hokuto: I... want Subaru to live. I know it's selfish. To tell someone to live when they're in such pain that they want to die ...it's arrogant. But still... still... I want you and Subaru to live.
Seishirou's eyes widen.
Seishirou: Why me, as well? I've hurt Subaru-kun ...and I'm killing you.
Hokuto: Yes... that's true... but... I don't want you to die either.
She opens her eyes to look up at him and grips his sleeve, smiling painfully.
Hokuto: No matter how much of a terrible person and a murderer you are... I guess I still like you.
She lifts her hand and points decisively.
Hokuto: ...The only one who can kill you is Subaru. And the only one who can kill Subaru is you. So I'm casting this spell with the last of my power.
Hokuto: If you try... to kill Subaru the same way... you killed me... that act will rebound upon you...
Her head tips back; Seishirou lifts a hand to hold her upright.
Seishirou: Why are you telling me the content of the final spell you're spending your life to cast?
Hokuto: If I don't tell you... there's no point to it.
She touches Seishirou's hand.
Hokuto: In the end... let me believe in you... and that this spell will never come into play.
Seishirou: *with harsh eyes* I'm not the kind of man you should put your trust in.
Hokuto: ...I know. But Subaru... thinks you're special. So I want to believe in you...
Seishirou kneels, supporting her weakening body in his arms.
Hokuto: ...Remember this.
With the last of her strength, Hokuto reaches up to touch his face as she smiles at him with tenderness and pity.
Hokuto: It's true that you're guilty of sins you can never atone for... but there there's no such thing as a person who shouldn't love anybody, Sei-chan...
Seishirou stares as though he has been struck, then slowly begins to smile.
Hokuto falls.
Hokuto: Su...ba...ru...
A sphere of power emerges, glowing, as life fades from her body. A moment later, magical wind swirls around her, and she is dissolved into a whirl of sakura.
A little distance away, Kakyou stands.
Kakyou: Hokuto...
He clutches at his own arms; tears stream down his face.
Kakyou: The future you believed in... hasn't come. The "wish" you gave your life for... didn't come true... I knew all this would happen... and I couldn't do anything for you...
From behind him a voice speaks, and Fuuma emerges from the darkness of the dreamscape.
Fuuma: The future won't change. But I think at least those two are happy.
Kakyou stares at him, wild-eyed.
Fuuma: To be killed by the person he wanted to.
The two of them look toward Seishirou and Subaru as they are on the bridge.
Fuuma: He didn't really have any will to live, so that's a happy ending.
Kakyou: Are you saying... that was the wish of that Dragon of Earth?
Seishirou's face, motionless in death, reveals nothing. Fuuma merely smiles a little.
Kakyou: Then what about the feelings of the Dragon of Heaven...?
Fuuma lifts his hand and catches one of the sakura petals swirling about the dreamscape.
Fuuma: If it were me--I couldn't stand for the person I thought of as special to be killed by anyone else.
He lifts the petals and touches it to his lips.
Fuuma: If he were destined to die, I'd kill him with my own hands.
Kakyou: But... Hokuto...
Fuuma: Is dead.
Kakyou moves to clutch at Fuuma's shirt, bowing his head.
Fuuma: ...But even if it's true that you shouldn't keep endlessly thinking about someone who's dead, there's no reason you have to forget them, either.
Remembering her smiling face and outflung arms, Kakyou closes his eyes and clings to Fuuma.
Kakyou: Hokuto's brother will...
Fuuma: You already know, don't you? What's going to happen.
He gazes over Kakyou's shoulder with no particular expression.
Fuuma: A "kekkai" is created in order to protect something one ought to protect. If one has nothing to protect, it's useless.
The two of them move apart to look at Subaru, who is still folded around Seishirou's fallen body.
Fuuma: And so one of the Seven Seals will disappear, and the empty place among the Dragons of Earth will be filled.
To be continued.
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