Title: Redemption: Second Wave
Author: Epeeblade
Archive: CFFML and my website (http://www.geocities.com/epeeblade) all others please ask
first.
Series/Sequel: Yes, to Corruption
Rating: R for violence
Disclaimer: CLAMP owns these characters and situation. I’m only playing in their universe. I’m
making no money from this.
Feedback: Is always appreciated.
Summary: (Sequel to Corruption) After Subaru became the Sakurazukamori in Corruption,
Hokuto takes his place as Dragon of Heaven. In this Alternate Universe, will she share the same
fate as her twin?
Redemption: Second Wave
By Epeeblade
I remember the scent of sakura in the air, tinged with something unfamiliar to my nose. I tasted
iron on my tongue and I knew. I knew.
Like a dream I wandered the corridors of my ancestral home. This is where I grew up. Subaru
and I used to run through these halls. Subaru …
He’s here; I could feel him like an itch I can’t scratch. I don’t know what he’s done – there’s
absolutely no one, none of my cousins, or even the many attendants my grandmother relies on.
It’s like I’m walking through a ghost house.
Oddly appropriate for a scion of the Sumeragi. But then, I didn’t think of this.
I turned the corner and cried out. The entire hall was flooded with blood. I could see a single
hand jutting out of a doorway. I ran, ignoring the slapping sounds my slipper-covered feet made
as they stuck in the sticky muck. I fell to my knees outside the door. The body belonged to
Keiko, one of grandmother’s aides.
I pushed the door open wider and I caught sight of her open empty eyes. Swallowing hard, I
stood and stepped over the body.
Why, oh why, had he done this?
There she was, in the center of the room, her chair overturned beside her. The blood had come
from the hole centered in her chest. “Oh, grandmother,” I murmured, reaching out to touch her
cheek gently.
“Do you believe me now, Hokuto-chan?”
His voice, when it comes, did not surprise me. I knew he was there after all.
“Subaru,” I whispered, “How could you?”
His hand rested on my shoulder. “Poor grandmother. She never could understand me. Ever think
she ever felt a bit of lust in her entire life?”
I whirled around, slapping his hand away from me. I stumbled away; nearly falling over the body
of someone I love. I was already coated with her blood. “How could you?” I demanded again,
trying to choke back my tears. I would have to cry later, when I had the time.
If I survived this.
He was over me, pushing me to the ground and I swore I could feel his hands on my neck,
closing in tighter. This is it, the last of the Sumeragi dies here.
Suddenly I could breathe.
“Not now, but soon,” he rasped and then he was gone.
I have never understood why he did it. I just know that was the day Subaru died to me. And a
part of me died with him.
***
The piercing noise drilling into my ears could only be one thing. I rolled over, throwing off the
bed covers as I bent to rummage through my clothes. Ah yes, here it is, the damn cell phone
Imonoyama insisted all the Dragons of Heaven carry. “What?” I really hated this phone. “Oh,
thanks. I’ll be right down.”
He was thankfully still asleep, my partner for the evening. Good, that saved me from having to
deal with an unpleasant ‘morning after’ scene. I dressed quietly, double-checking that all my
spells were still in the pockets of my coat and that I had my umbrella. Both are my best defense
against unscrupulous harbinger Angels – and my twin.
“Glad you decided to join me.”
I can’t help smiling, really. Karen Kasumi turned out to be one of my closest friends among the
Seals. She stood leaning against a telephone pole outside the seedy establishment where I had
spent the night. In complete odds with the neighborhood we were in, she was dressed quite
sharply in a neat burgundy suit.
“Well you insisted on waking me with that horrible phone.” I stepped out of the doorway and
followed her down the sidewalk. The city was just waking up and the crowd in the streets was
just beginning to thicken.
“Why do you do this to yourself, Hokuto?” she asked softly.
I ducked my head and stuffed my hands in my pockets. “It’s not like it will matter once the world
ends.”
“What will Kamui think?”
I stopped in my tracks, she was hitting my weak point. Kamui was a child, younger even than
Subaru had been when the Sakurazukamori had seduced him. I knew that was why I felt so
protective towards the teen, especially after our first meeting. I entered his heart, the very core of
his being and I couldn’t condemn him to the despair his role as savior demanded. “Kamui
doesn’t have to know.” And I started walking again.
She waited a beat then ran back to catch up with me. “We need you too, you know.”
“I know, but I’m not sure I can be there for anyone.” I pull my hands out of my pockets and
pulled my coat tight around me.
“Listen, I’m going to meet Aoki-san for breakfast. Want to come?”
I laughed, “What? And get between the love birds?”
“Hokuto! We’re just good friends! And he’s married – to someone else.” As she spoke the blush
rose to tinge her cheeks.
I grinned. “Don’t you know love will always find a way, Karen?”
Still blushing, she turned away. I almost felt like myself. Maybe the day was looking a bit
brighter after all. “I’ll catch up with you later, Karen! Have fun!” I called, taking off in the
opposite direction.
And I do wish her well, not that I’m opposed to marriage or anything, but, well, I can see the
sadness in her eyes. Is it so wrong to want her to be happy?
I should know better, really, I’m a terrible matchmaker. Actually, technically, I’m a good
matchmaker, I just never considered that the man my brother loved would be our ancient enemy.
What were the chances, really?
I guess the guilt comes from the fact that I should have known. There were too many questions,
too many things that didn’t quite add up. Why didn’t I see? How could I have let him fall in love
with that monster?
Walking is probably the worst thing I should be doing – it gives me too much time to think. But
I’m not in the mood to hang around the mansion and wait for the next attack. I have a funny
feeling anyway. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle like just before a storm.
I pass in front of a clothing store and stop. Really, that shade of green should not be allowed.
Tentatively, I touch the glass of the display window, leaving a fleeting palm print behind. My
reflection is distorted and for a second I see my teenage self, full of schemes and dreams. I had
planned on applying to fashion school after high school, but never got the chance. I needed that
time to practice my meager skills, to somehow make myself strong enough to have a chance to
defeat my brother as I took his place as Dragon of Heaven.
If I only had the courage to do so.
My thoughts are interrupted by the screaming crowds running past me. I whirled in the opposite
direction and began running. The prickling sensation has only increased and now I know what it
is. Kamui is in trouble.
I skid to a stop when I spot them. Kamui can’t make a Kekkai yet – the shield that will protect
innocent bystanders from the fallout of our battles. But I can and I call the power, which forms as
a bright 5-pointed star in my hand, then grows and engulfs the area. Now I can help.
“Leave him alone, it’s not the final day yet.” I shout, pulling spells from my pocket and tossing
them.
The other Kamui has mine trapped with cords of wire pressing into his skin, holding him back.
Poor kid. He dodged my attack easily and turns to face me. “How would you know?” he teased,
eyes suddenly golden.
“Sei-ch… Sakurazukamori!” I exclaimed, biting my tongue at the slip. It can’t be – he’s dead,
killed by the hands of his own protégé – my brother. “Why do you look like him?”
“You wish it.”
“You don’t know what I wish,” I replied, pulling my be-spelled umbrella out from within my
coat. It’s not nearly enough for the Kamui of the Dragons of Earth, but I have to try.
“You mean you don’t wish you had died at his hands? Anything to free your brother?”
“You don’t understand!” and I stepped back. I couldn’t move and he’s coming for me, so quickly
I can’t even scream.
Now everything is dark.
***
I’m not sure what wakes me – whether it is the unpleasant smell or the intermittent beeping
assaulting my ears. When I opened my eyes, I realized something was wrong. I lift my hand and
move it towards my right eye, halting the gesture when I realized I couldn’t see my hand.
“The doctors said not to touch it,” a soft voice said at my ear. Turning my head I could see it was
Kamui, covered in bandages himself.
“What happened?” I whispered, surprised at how weak my voice sounds.
Kamui looked at his hands then hesitantly moved one hand forward and placed it over my own.
“After F-fuuma attacked you the Kekkai fell.”
“Oh no.”
“And I was finally able to get free. I’m so sorry, Hokuto.”
“Kamui, don’t.” I raised my other hand and rubbed my forehead, which ached. What had
happened to my eye? “It wasn’t your fault. I s-should have been stronger…”
“I wish…” he began, then gripped my hand tightly, not completing the thought.
Someone knocked softly on the door before it creaked open. Arashi and Sorata peaked in. Now
there was an interesting couple if I ever saw one. Arashi was just a bit too shy and Sorata was
just a bit too much the other way. I’m sure they’d work it out eventually, if they had the time.
That was the difficulty.
“It’s ok, come in,” I told them. Kamui pulled his hand away.
“Sorry, I’ve come to steal Kamui away. He does have school work to do, you know.” Sorata
grinned.
“I’ll see you later, Hokuto.” Kamui stood reluctantly and left with Sorata.
Arashi stayed behind after the boys had left, setting a vase of colorful flowers on my windowsill.
“Help me up,” I commanded, as I struggled to stand, ignoring the throbbing in my head.
“Hokuto-san!” she exclaimed, hurrying to my side.
“Please, just…” I held on to her and pulled myself out of bed. The world swam in my good eye
and I gasped, swallowing hard so I wouldn’t vomit.
“Small steps,” she said quietly, leading me into the bathroom.
“Thank you,” I murmured, transferring my weight to the sink. I looked up at the mirror, almost
afraid of what I would see. Had the other Kamui disfigured my face? Was that why Kamui was
so tentative? Could he not bear to look at me?
Then I tilted my face up and looked … at the white bandage that covered my right eye.
Oh gods, it made sense suddenly, in a sick sort of way. Sei-chan had lost his right eye, because
Subaru was too scared to move out of the way. That really was the beginning of the end. Subaru
changed after that visit to Sei-chan’s hospital room.
Had I somehow subconsciously wished it had happened to me instead? Then perhaps my twin
would not have felt beholden to the Sakurazukamori for saving his life?
Even if that was true, this changed nothing, absolutely nothing. Subaru was still lost and I, I
don’t know what I am.
I touched the mirror, resisting the urge to slam into it with my fist. Instead I pressed my fingers
against the glass, right where my eye should be. The tears trickle beneath the bandage and onto
the skin below.
***
The bandage stayed on, though I had left the hospital. A headache bothered me for several days
afterward, but other than that, I was able to function and I desperately needed to go back to work.
Protect Tokyo, protect Kamui – that was my function. I couldn’t let my pain get in the way of
that. If anything, this injury to my eye only proved this to be true. I would protect Kamui, even
against my brother.
So when Hinoto-hime called me, I went, despite how tired I was or how the blood pounded
beneath my forehead. She gave me the chance to do my job.
I double-checked my newly reworked umbrella – which would still technically be useless against
the other Kamui. It had taken me most of the night before to painstakingly paint the characters on
the vinyl, aware that a wrong stroke meant a useless tool. Along my forearm I strapped a
ceremonial Sumeragi dagger – useful as a last resort weapon if nothing else. Lastly, I donned my
long coat, pockets full of spelled ofuda.
Now I stood at the Rainbow Bridge waiting for the Dragons of Earth to strike.
I lean over the edge, wondering for the first time why I was sent here alone. That tickle at the
edge of my brain came again. I know what it is – Subaru.
He leaned on the railing to my left, a cigarette hanging from one hand. “Hello, Hokuto-chan.”
“Subaru,” I murmured, turning so my back is no longer towards him. This is where it would
finally end – both Sumeragi and Sakurazukamori, for good or for ill.
“What? No words of redemption from my dear sister?”
“Maybe there comes a time when I need to stop asking for the impossible.”
He laughed, delighted. “You’ve truly grown up, my sister.”
I reached out and slapped the cigarette from his hands. “Sad that you haven’t. I’m not here to
make small talk. We both know why we are here.”
He frowned at the burnt stub on the ground and crushed it under his heel. “Of course.” He
stepped back, his body shifting into a battle stance.
I’ve only one chance at this; I’d better make it count. He is Sakurazukamori – he has power I
can’t even dream of.
First things first, a Kekkai to protect the area, then I’m ready to face him. He attacked first, when
I’m still coming down from placing the Kekkai. I barely dodged the shikigami in time and
managed to grab an ofuda. “On!” I shouted and the paper disintegrated, as did the bird Subaru
had called.
I snapped open my umbrella, twisting it to the right. For once I’m on the attack, as shards of
bright energy rocket towards him. But he’s prepared. A mere hand gesture raised a shield, then
deflected my attack back at me. I turned the umbrella to the left, desperate to block my own
blasts. The shield holds, but the umbrella is blown to bits – and that was my strongest weapon.
He’s coming for me; eyes alight with a passion I’ve never seen from him before. I stumbled
backwards, too slow to grab a spell, and a split second before he hits I remember the dagger.
“HOKUTO!” Someone screamed and there was a flash of light, blinding me.
I opened my eyes and Subaru was in my arms. I wonder how I’m still alive, when I realize my
entire arm had gone through him. Oh gods, my arm was inside him. I opened my mouth, unsure
of what to say. He just looked at me, green eyes glazed with pain.
“Hokuto,” he whispered, lifting one hand to my face. The bandage fell away and I realized I
could see him clearly with both eyes.
“How?” I gasped.
“Seishirou-san…cursed me,” He choked out.
I pulled back, not wanting to feel the blood pouring out of him, not wanting to be so intimately
and obscenely connected to him. He fell to his knees and I caught him desperately. Blood stained
everything, the crimson liquid coloring the entire scene forever. I had a sudden sense of de ja vu,
and I shook my head to let it go.
“Oh, Subaru.”
“Hokuto,” he coughed, “I’m sorry…never meant to…”
“It’s ok, Subaru, it’s ok,” I’m crying as I held him, once again, he’s my brother, my twin, the
other half of my soul.
“HOKUTO!” that scream again.
Then the bridge breaks up and I’m falling…
End
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