I apologize for being highly ignorant of Japanese names, as my original character in this probably has a name that is very unlikely to exist. In this story, I take liberties with the exact relationship between Seishirou and Subaru, as well as with the powers of the Minions and Seals. I do not think that this is in any way what CLAMP has in mind, however, it is something I wanted to write. I thank Kanoe-san and Eagle-chan for patiently sitting through the rougher drafts of this. The dedication (if such a thing can be done for a fanfic) is to Subaru-san... because he loves Tokyo Babylon so much and inspired me to _get it right_. This begins in the January, 1996, issue of Asuka... which is the first meeting between Seishirou and Subaru since the end of Tokyo Babylon, and occurs in tankouban 8 of the X manga. Tokyo Babylon: Song Prelude: Love is a Battlefield / Take On Me "You've taken up smoking, haven't you?" Seishirou asked. Subaru wrenched his wrists away. "It's not good for your health." "You drove me to it," Subaru replied quietly. "Really?" Seishirou asked. "Tell me." "Killing my sister wasn't enough for you, was it?" Subaru asked softly in return. "I know now who you are. You hunted me from the beginning, didn't you? Sakurazukamori... you like playing with your prey, hurting it before you kill it. You wanted to hurt me. You planned to break my heart from the very start... didn't you?" "Really, Subaru-kun, the role of a betrayed lover is not becoming to you," Seishirou replied cooly. Subaru's eyes narrowed. "You killed my sister and who knows how many others. I will no longer allow you to live, to keep murdering." "Then come and take my heart out in return for your own, Subaru-kun," Seishirou replied, spreading his arms open, standing totally defenseless. "If you can." ********* "Seishirou-san!" Subaru looked up in surprise as his friend loomed over the desk where he sat, doing his homework. Seishirou had doubtless let himself in with the keys that he and his sister had given to their friend. "Good afternoon, Subaru-kun," Seishirou greeted him. "Is Hokuto-chan around?" "Ah, no," Subaru replied, hiding a secret smile to himself. So Seishirou-san was interested in Hokuto-chan? Subaru had suspected that for a while now.... "She went out shopping. She should be back soon." "Would you mind if I waited here for her?" Seishirou asked. "She and I have a few matters to discuss." "Oh, no, not at all!" Subaru replied. "Please, have a seat. I'll be done with my homework in a few seconds. Would you like anything to eat or drink?" As always, when he was excited, Subaru's sentences ran together in a flurry. "No thank you," Seishirou replied, sitting smoothly onto the sofa, watching Subaru run through the last of his calculus problems with a speed that practically guaranteed error in the results. "Hokuto-chan will be so excited to see you," Subaru said, closing his book and moving over to sit on the sofa near Seishirou. "She really likes you a lot, you know...." Seishirou's brow wrinkled for a second, then smoothed itself as he began to understand what Subaru meant. "Subaru-kun, do you think the two of us are... romantically involved?" "Ummm..." Subaru hedged. Seishirou laughed. "I can understand your enthusiasm for the idea, Subaru-kun. After all, Hokuto-chan is a beautiful young woman, and I should hope that by now I'm high enough in your esteem to be seen as a satisfactory suitor for her, but I'm afraid that neither she nor I have romantic intentions towards one another." "You mean you're not going to become my brother-in-law some day?" Subaru asked, disappointment written across his face. "Regrettably, no," Seishirou replied. "Is that a bad thing?" "I was just hoping that Hokuto-chan and you would hit it off, so that I could still have both of you. I mean, if the two of you started dating different people, then I wouldn't see you as often-- of course, I'd still see you, and I'd see Hokuto-chan all the time, until she got married and moved out, at least, but it wouldn't be the same-- that is...." Subaru floundered, looking for a way to get himself out of the verbal trap he'd started laying for himself. "Subaru-kun." Subaru looked up. "I think I understand." Seishirou's lips gently met Subaru's in a kiss. The apartment was dead silent for a long minute, until Seishirou ended the kiss. "Sei- Seishirou-san!" Subaru stuttered, blushing a furious shade of red. Seishirou's hand ran lightly through Subaru's silky hair. "Have I frightened you, Subaru-kun?" he asked softly. "If so, then I must apologize. It was not my intention." "You k-kissed me," Subaru said, raising a hand to his lips, still staring wide-eyed at Seishirou. "Did you enjoy it?" inquired Seishirou. Subaru turned even redder, and Seishirou laughed lightly. "I see. You did. Don't worry, it's not wrong, and I'm not going to just leave." "But... why?" Subaru asked. "Because, Subaru-kun, you wanted me to," Seishirou replied. "Don't deny it; I've been watching you, and I know the way you act around me. You have a crush on me, don't you, Subaru-kun?" Subaru mutely nodded. Seishirou smiled and gently pulled Subaru closer to himself. "Would you like me to stay, Subaru-kun?" he softly asked. "Would you like me to be more than a friend?" Subaru didn't reply, but the look in his eyes was a "yes." Subaru looked into Seishirou's dark eyes and conciously willed away his tension in the second kiss. He wouldn't mess this up. Subaru started as Seishirou lightly ran hands down his sides, then relaxed again, and hesitantly returned the touch. "There, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Seishirou asked softly, breaking the kiss. Subaru opened his eyes and shook his head, smiling. "Se- Seishirou-san..." Subaru said hesitantly, then didn't have time to say anything more as Seishirou's lips touched softly to his a third time. "Mm-mmm...." Subaru lost himself in the kiss Seishirou thought to himself.