Tokyo Babylon: Sound "X"mas Party / Epilogue "I do not know how you managed to talk me into this, Midori..." Subaru murmured, looking around the crowded mall. She smiled at him. "Into what, Greeneyes?" she inquired sweetly. "Shopping." "Otousan... Okaasan..." their son called, several yards away, looking into a store window. "Koko desu ka?" "Ha-a-i," Midori called back, catching hold of Subaru's hand and gently pulling him towards the store. He sighed and followed. * * * Midori smiled and headed straight into the clothing section of the department store. Particularly, the men's clothing section. "No," Subaru said, suddenly stopping and acting like dead weight. "I am not going...." Midori smiled at him. "Not going to what?" she asked. "I do not need new clothing," Subaru said softly. "Your wardrobe consists of black, black, gray, and white," Midori pointed out. "We've been married seven and a half months, and I have yet to see you in a bit of color. You *need* new clothes." "I do not." "Do too. And that's final." "But...." Midori gave Subaru a look that told him she was going to get her way, watched him cave in, then gently pulled him towards the men's clothing area. * * * Subaru watched in amusement as his mother picked out clothes for his father to try on. She had been dying to get him into the clothing section; he could tell by the delight with which she selected various shades and colors for him, the same blues and greens that she picked out for him, gentle, elegant fabrics that fell in soft lines and comfortable weights. And then he turned his head as he felt a presence of *something else* arrive next to him. A teenage girl with short dark hair looked at his parents for a minute, then smiled at Subaru. "Heya, nephew, how're you doing?" she asked as he took in her bright, wild clothing. One of the yuurei, he could tell by looking at her aura. "Know who I am?" Her bright emerald eyes gave Subaru the clue he needed. Only two people had eyes like that: himself and his father. Which meant that this ghost had to be.... "Sumeragi Hokuto-obasan?" he guessed. "Bingo!" she pronounced. "Pleased to meet you, Toyuuki Subaru!" She ruffled his hair, which he resented most of the time, only it wasn't too annoying when she did it. "I thought I'd drop in and see how my darling brother and his family are doing. It *is* the holiday season, after all." Subaru smiled. "Otousan's going to be startled when he sees you, I think," he said. "You've never shown up before, at least not as far as he's told me." * * * Midori looked up from the rack of soft turtlenecks she was sifting through as a sense of *otherness* ran a chill along the back of her neck. Her movements died as she saw what she saw. "Subaru," she said softly, gesturing just a little bit, not taking her eyes off of what she saw. He looked up too and drew in a small, quick breath. "Hokuto-chan," he whispered. Midori smiled a bit as the figure in bright clothing, a girl who could be her nephew's older sister as easily as she had been her brother's, waved a bit at them, taking her nephew's hand and leading him off towards the toy department. Midori smiled back, knowing that their child would be safe in Subaru's sister's spectral hands. * * * Kakyou looked up as he felt something supernatural brush his senses, lightly touching Yuuto on the arm to get his attention. Not ten feet away, chattering merrily with a girl who looked quite a bit like him, was Toyuuki Subaru. "A ghost?" Yuuto murmured, following his gaze. Kakyou looked again, concentrating on the young woman's aura, and saw that his partner was correct. With that settled a small piece of the small puzzle. She would have to be Sumeragi Hokuto, Sumeragi Subaru's elder twin and a victim of Sakurazukamori. She could be no one else, resembling him as closely as she did. "Subaru-kun!" Yuuto called out, catching the boy's attention with that and a wave. The seven-year-old (almost eight, now, Kakyou thought) grinned and walked over closer to them. "Kigai-san, Kakyou-san, konnichiwa," he greeted them with a bow. "This is my aunt, Sumeragi Hokuto-san." "Pleased to meet you," Sumeragi Hokuto said, bowing as Yuuto and Kakyou did. "The pleasure is ours," Kakyou murmured, surprising himself a bit by speaking. He usually let Yuuto speak, except for when he had something to say. "So what are you doing here?" Yuuto asked Subaru. "Christmas shopping? I trust your parents are here somewhere?" "We left Subaru and Midori-chan over in the mens' clothing section," Hokuto replied. "We wanted to come check out the toys!" Subaru smiled. "Okaasan was trying to get Otousan to try on some clothes," he reported with a wicked grin. "Are you coming to the party?" "Wouldn't miss it," Yuuto replied with his own grin, kneeling down until he was at eye-level with the boy. "And don't bother telling us what you want for your birthday, scamp, because we've already gotten your present." Kakyou smiled a little. "We should go see Subaru-san and Midori-san and tell them that we'll be coming," he reminded Yuuto as his partner stood up. "The two of you be careful, please," he told Hokuto and Subaru. "There are still a lot of child kidnappings in this day and age, and I'm afraid that a ghost isn't much of a deterrant." "We'll be fine!" Hokuto said cheerfully, and there was a gleam of solidarity in her eye that Kakyou didn't doubt. "Just because I'm dead doesn't mean that I can't protect my only nephew." * * * Subaru looked disbelievingly at the armful of colors that Midori held. "Even if I did need clothes, I certainly wouldn't need that many." "Look, they're none of them black or white," his wife argued. "Admit it, *everything* you have makes you look sober as a priest on Sunday." "What?" he asked, not understanding the reference. She sighed. "You never wear color, Subaru. You always wear black, white, or something inbetween. You never look warm and alive. You always look like you're already a spirit." She smiled. "It's going to be Christmas and your son's birthday," she reminded him. "Dress up a little." He sighed a little. "I stopped dressing like that after Hokuto-chan died. It seemed disrespectful to her memory... to what Seishirou-san had done... to continue dressing in that style." "I *don't* think she'd mind, Subaru," Midori pointed out. "She certainly doesn't seem too upset that you've had a child and gotten married." "Agreed, my lady Balancer," a familiar voice said from behind them. "Sumeragi-san certainly seemed fond of her nephew." "Kigai-san!" Midori said with a smile, turning around. "Kakyou-san! What are you doing here?" "Some last-minute gift shopping for this 'gift exchange' idea you mentioned in the invitation," Yuuto replied, lightly touching his lips to Midori's cheek, eternally gallant. Subaru stifled the touch of jealousy he felt; Kigai Yuuto was far too attached to his lover to ever consider even *trying* anything with Midori. Plus he knew that Subaru would likely kill him if he did. :Lightly, my dearest,: Midori thought to him in a form of telepathy that they had found they could enact with one another. :You're broadcasting.: :Sorry,: he apologized with his mind and emotions. He felt her affections, adoring, caress him. :We're still newlyweds, I guess,: she replied. :Now be nice.: Subaru couldn't help but smile and murmur something polite to the two Minions. Midori was right, and he was surprised to find that he was this prone to jealousy over her. Before, ever before, he'd never ever been jealous; it was still new and strange to him. Midori just smiled secretively and turned to the counter to pay for the clothes. He decided then and there that he would have immediate revenge on her for the clothing. And since a tickle-fight in the middle of the mall with his extremely ticklish wife was out, he would simply have to find another way. * * * Subaru had the thought that revenge might not be the best idea after all. That thought was accompanied by a blush. he decided, watching as his wife went blithely through the racks of lacy, skimpy underclothes. She, on the other hand, was doing a good job of flustering him without even trying. Though insisting that it was *her* turn to get some clothes and randomly picking the lingerie department had been his idea to start with. One that had badly backfired. He felt nothing but relief as she touched his mind with the sensuous whisper of a suggestion (incredible control of her emotions, she had, to be able to make such a forthright suggestion feel like pillow-talk) that he go and find their son. Subaru fled from the department, color in his cheeks, hearing his wife's soft laughter behind him. * * * Kamui lightly knocked on the door of the Sumeragi residence. Next to him, his wife held the hand of their daughter, who was stubbornly standing on her own instead of being carried. He himself held the gifts that they had brought. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about coming to this small celebration, a combination party for Subaru's son's eight birthday and Christmas. He and Yuzuriha and Subaru and Midori had a mahjong game every week; their families had grown into great friends, though the Sumeragi-Toyuuki residence was halfway across Tokyo from the Togakushi Shrine. But this party would include three people he couldn't resolve in his life - the three remaining Minions. He didn't know what it would do to the fragile balance the world held itself in if there weren't seven of them, so he didn't dare attack them, didn't dare let the fights resume. But he couldn't forgive them, either. Not after Kotori... not after Fuuma. Even after eight years, he couldn't forgive them what had happened. Midori answered the door, wearing a flowing green-and-silver dress that looked more than slightly formal. "Come in, please," she invited them. "Here, let me take your coats...." As Midori cheerfully moved about, putting on the seeming of the perfect Japanese wife for once (Kamui had learned how she actually hated the role), her son and Subaru's came up and greeted them, his "aunt" and "uncle," with enthusiastic hugs, then led his "little cousin" Megumi off with the promise of some toys to play with. Kamui smiled as he noted to himself and to Yuzuriha in a murmur that the birthday boy had the smoothness of a diplomat. "You're a bit early, actually," Midori informed them as they slipped into the house slippers. "Only Oniisan has arrived yet." Eventually the house did get filled up, though. In addition to the Sumeragis and their son, who still kept his family name as Toyuuki, there was Sakurazukamori and the Shirous. Next Kishuu Arashi arrived with Saiki Daisuke, his wife, and their son and daughter. Their presents got placed with the others on the hall table, and Midori and Yuzuriha did their very best to make Kumiko feel at ease; of everyone gathered here, she was the sole person with *no* psychic powers. Midori explained to the rest of them that though she had sent invitations, the Ijyuin, Takamura, and Imonoyama families had responded that they were unable to attend. Just about then, the a knock came on the door for the final time that evening and Midori went to answer it. She came back a few seconds later with Kigai Yuuto and Kuzuki Kakyou following her. Despite his reservations about the entire thing, Kamui had to admit, the party took off from there. Subaru's son was the oldest of all their children, and neatly managed the others in play while the adults talked and drank. The food, drink, and sake alike were plentiful and of high quality, and despite the differences between everyone gathered there, they found things to talk about... everything from the day-to-day management of the Togakushi Shrine to stories of their childrens' antics to arguments of magical theory. And they spoke a little, in soft tones, of the dead and the past. Things got passed around as the sake was imbribed, nice and hot, just right to drink, that Kamui would never have known about his former enemies, dead and alive both. And there were even a few tears on both sides for the evils they had all had to commit. The hatred and tensions in Kamui slowly started to dissolve as he watched his former enemies grieve for those they had killed and those they had not. Seeing Kakyou close his eyes in silence for Nataku and Karen alike made an impact on him. *Peace.* When had he last felt true peace? In the moments at night just before he and Yuzuriha drifted off to sleep, perhaps, he came close, but even then, feeling her hand as it brushed across his wings reminded him of the hurt, the anxiety, the fear. He was no longer quite human. When he'd killed The Other... killed Fuuma... and the two Shinken had fused into one, he had finally sprouted the twin wings that linked him to the Earth and its future forever. And those wings, damning wings, redeeming wings, marked him and set him apart. Hurt for having destroyed his best friend. Anxiety that he might kill again. Fear that those he loved would be injured. He was "Kamui," and he was alone. But now he no longer *had* to be.... "I--" he started, then stopped, then started again. "I don't know if I can forgive the three of you yet for what you did," he said, aware that all eyes at the table were on him as his voice shattered the mournful silence, "but... I think that I at least don't hate you anymore." It was a small, good thing, he found, to have friends when you opened your heart. * * * At Kamui's statement, Subaru looked to his wife and saw in her eyes that she had known that this was what might happen if she gave this party. And, strangely, the knowledge of her manipulation of fate didn't bother him. It was her right to change things, as it was his to make them better, as it was Seishirou-san's to oppose him. He wondered if he always would have been this accepting of what she did, and decided not. * * * With the same delight that any eight-year-old, magic user or not, would show, Subaru ripped through the wrapping paper of his presents. Midori smiled and touched her son's father on the arm, catching his gaze with her eyes. She gestured to the next room, fairly empty while everyone was going through the novelty of the "gift exchange" idea she had presented to them. Seals, Minions, and children alike were enthusiastic about it, so she had half a feeling that it might become a tradition. Subaru looked at her, green eyes calm, as they entered the relative silence of the other room, and smiled, just a little. "Was there something you wanted to tell me, Midori?" She smiled and walked over the the sound system that rested in one corner of the room, pressing a button and turning the volume dial down so that the soft song was even softer. She walked back to her husband and put her arms around his waist, just holding him. He wound his arms around her and they swayed lightly back and forth to the music, dancing in a net of affection. "I have a gift for you," she murmured. "Oh?" he asked, whispering in her ear. "You'll have to wait to unwrap me until tonight, though." She could hear his soft breath of amusement. "I think I like this gift already," he teased. "Good, because you can't return it, Greeneyes." His arms tightened a little around her as Subaru turned their light teasing in another direction. "Midori, I know we said that we weren't going to get gifts for one another, but...." He slipped his hand into the pocket of the deep blue vest he wore over his black turtleneck. "I got you something. I hope you like it." He handed a small, very small, box to her. Midori let go of him as she took it, gently opening what could only be a jewelry box. A gold heart gleamed softly at her from inside it, nestled on a cushion of white, floating on a delicate chain. "It's beautiful," she whispered, genuinely awed. "I really didn't think you were going to get me something, Subaru... especially not something like this." She looked up at him. "Thank you." He smiled again and touched his hand to hers. "I thought you might like it," he said. "It's a locket; I put pictures of Seishirou-san and Subaru in there. I hope you don't mind." She shook her head. "Here, let me," Subaru said, taking out the gold locket and the fine chain that held it from the box and unfastening the end. He reached around her neck, under her hair, and fastened it. Midori looked down at her chest and felt the cold heart warming through the silk of her dress. She caught her husband's right hand as he drew it back. "I suppose I should give you your other gift now, then," she murmured. "Other gift?" Midori smiled. She'd been sure of her secret for nearly a month. "How would you like it," she questioned, silver eyes glowing with mischief and love, "if I were to tell you you were going to be a father again?" As she expected, Subaru went still with the shock of that, emerald eyes opening wide. Smiling, she touched her lips to his and murmured, "Silly onmyouji." "You're... pregnant?" he whispered. Midori nodded just a little. "You're the only one who knows yet. I didn't want to spoil Su-chan's birthday by telling him." "A baby..." Subaru breathed. His eyes met hers. "I think your gift outdoes mine, Midori." She smiled a little again and just held him. "Her name will be Sakura." * * * The Dreams of Time played through Kakyou's senses, and as he looked through the deck of Tarot cards at the future, he could see it happening, as if it was in fast-forward. And through the pictures in his mind, he could see Midori-san's silver eyes, feel the Balancer seeing it with him. A daughter. And then, a few years later, a second son. Children growing up, parents growing old, each of the three taking a different path. The eldest's was already ordained: he would be Balancer. The second, the daughter, would choose to be Sumeragi. And the youngest would learn the ways of onmyoujutsu as well and choose the path of Sakurazukamori. The rites would be followed. The new Sakurazukamori would kill the old. The Sumeragi Head would pass the responsibility to the next generation at the same time. The Balancer would abdicate her power and pass it to her child. Things would remain the same, but they would change as well. Sumeragi and Sakurazukamori would work together to purify Japan, to purify the world, with as few assassinations as possible. Two sides of the same goal would finally work together and make the split coin whole. The sister and the brother would balance one another well, one logical, cold, artistic, one emotional, fiery, imperative, and the Balancer would use his inborn knowledge and power to guide them both and aid and shape all three of the clans. And there would be others, friends, lovers, enemies. Some would come from the pool of psychic children they already knew. Others would come from elsewhere, other parts of the country, other nations. They would be gifted with magic, or psychic abilities, or perhaps be normal. But they would all weave the future together, a future that made the events of what was not yet a decade past seem worthless. :It is a good future, then, Kakyou-san,: Midori-san told him. :Thank you for this.: :It is a poor talent, my lady Toyuuki,: Kakyou replied. :A powerful one,: she countered. :And I regret what I have seen of your future....: Kakyou startled; he hadn't thought that the Balancer might be able to see the brief pathway of his own future that he knew. :We will take care of him for you when you are gone, Kuzuki-san,: she murmured, touching him with her emotions. :We will sorrow for this.: Kakyou smiled just a little. :I think, Lady Toyuuki,: he said, using her maiden name again, :that I shall have to tell him soon that I *do* love him.: :Truth is always the best way, no matter how it hurts,: she agreed, silver eyes closing momentarily. :I regret only that I have known you so briefly.: :I regret nothing. I have lived my life as it was meant to be lived. I have had my "wishes" granted one by one, I have had two great loves, and now I am content to rest.: Kakyou paused. :Rest, sleep, my lady, is a very good thing.: :Agreed,: she said softly, and he knew she meant it. "Agreed." ***** Linguistics: "Koko desu ka?" means "Here?", "Ha-a-i" means "Ye-e-s," and "obasan" means "aunt." In general: I hope those of you who have read this story enjoyed it, and, as I timed it deliberately, the Christmas party section is arriving on CML on Christmas Day. Please have a happy holidays and a good New Year, whatever faith you belong to and whatever calendar you go by. Sincerely, Kristin Huntsman December 25, 1996