X/1999 fanfiction. My standard disclaimers apply.

The Other Shoe

by Lady Aria (writersblock@edsamail.com.ph)

Fuuma stopped in mid-stride and looked about. He was once again strolling through Ueno Park, thinking. Seishirou’s death raised quite a number of questions and considerations that demanded his attention. He would’ve stayed at the government building, but he was finding it harder and harder to concentrate given the ‘racket’ caused by his fellow Dragons of Earth. Rather than giving into the temptation to kill them all off, he’d opted to take a walk instead.

To the casual observer, it would look as though Fuuma was looking for someone who might have called out his name. Which was partly true, because he had heard something. A silent call laced in magic. It had not been specifically for him, but it was puzzling enough to catch his attention.

Which was not necessarily a good thing.

Taking a deep breath, he walked on, extending his senses to sweep the area in the hopes that he might chance upon it once again and, this time, follow it to home.

Laughter rang throughout the park as late afternoon gave way to twilight. He’d managed to come upon the call only twice since he’d first heard it, but it was enough to guide him in the general direction of its source. Fuuma found himself venturing deeper and deeper into the trees, until he emerged into the clearing that was the home of the Sakura Tree….

…And beneath heavy branches filled with blossoms stood the ‘Sakurazukamori’.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Fuuma said to himself, a smile forming on his lips as he regarded the older man. As he ventured closer, he realized that the he hadn’t been the source of the curious ‘summons.’

It’d been the Tree.

His eyes darkened as, an instant later, the two of them were caught in the maboroshi. He watched Subaru as the latter walked close to the Sakura and placed his right hand on its trunk. It gave off an unholy light at Subaru’s touch, making the scene even more perplexing than it already was.

“Do you mean for me to join Seishirou under the roots of this tree?” Fuuma asked Subaru in amusement. “Are you under the impression that, by killing me, you would be saving your precious Seals?”

“Why?” Subaru asked in return. His voice was emotionless as he stroked the crevices of the bark absently. “I have nothing to gain by killing you.”

“Still, does the Tree demand of you my soul for its next meal?” Fuuma was ready to fight him, if need be. “If that’s why it called me here, then, allow me to express my apologies because I’ll have to disappoint you.” Fuuma’s next words were cut off, stunned at Subaru’s reaction.

He was laughing.

“Foolish boy. No souls are trapped within the Sakura itself. It needs nothing but blood to live – blood harvested by the Sakurazukamori. If there are any souls that linger in this place, they are bound by chains of their own design.” The thirteenth head of the Sumeragi Clan pulled out his left hand from his coat pocket, brought it to the level of his face, and just looked, fresh blood still dripping from his fingers. “Blood is life and so it is what gives life to the Sakura. It has no use for remnants of what once made the victims human.”

A realization dawned over Fuuma then.

The Sakura called out not for a sacrifice.

It was rejoicing at the ascension of the new Sakurazukamori.

“There is one thing that I’d like to know,” Fuuma said, his voice showing his newfound respect for the onmyouji. “Seal or Angel?”

A wicked smile crept over Subaru’s features as he ran his left hand through his hair, staining ebony locks dark crimson.

“Angel.”

********** The End **********

Author’s Notes:

1. Why the title? It comes from the saying “Waiting for the other shoe to fall.” ^^

2. NO SEQUEL TO FOLLOW!!!

original © July 2001 by Lady Aria