By Narsus (Narsus@ApexMail.com)
Disclaimer: same as before
Shounen-ai, as before.
This is the final instalment of the ‘As If’ series started with “Assassination” and continued in “Seduction” and “Irreclaimable”.
Thank you again Ella for the praise of earlier parts of this series; Summer for the metaphor of a little, green snake; Ashura for listening to my endless analyses of X/1999 and Elric for laughing evilly at “The Bet”.
Nine months have passed in the Kingdom of Pulsar since the mysterious foreigner, Seishiro Sakurazuka was hired to deal with possible assassination attempts on members of the royal household, and despite all efforts Sakurazukamori has been unable to cause an unreachable rift between the King’s Champion and the Imperial Artist. Yet Seishiro now has other enemies to contemplate…
For once Arslan wasn’t sat in the throne-room in the early morning but was instead enjoying a quiet breakfast with his friends. He listened idly to Pharangase’s words, punctuated by Gieve’s jokes and Alfreedo’s comments once in a while. Elam was too busy trying to emulate Daryoon to add to the conversation. That made Arslan smile, the orphaned ex-slave now seemed to have two caring parents. Arslan’s gaze drifted to Narsus. The strategist noted his look and smiled back, idly scratching at the back of one of his hands as he did.
“…anyway, I don’t see why that so important?” Alfreedo said loudly.
“The tournaments are held in praise if Misra.” This from Pharangase.
“Oh.” Alfreedo quietened down.
“Will you be fighting then Daryoon?”
“Yes, Elam.”
Narsus smirked causing everyone to turn to look at him. “I shouldn’t wonder that the tournaments were devised by some cunning noble just so he could look at all the soldiers.”
That caused everyone to laugh, even the priestess smiled in amusement.
“It was probably one of your ancestors.” Daryoon said with a raised eyebrow, causing another round of laughter.
Arslan sat back and tried not to grin to obviously, this was the way it should be, all his friends here, together, happy.
Seishiro woke feeling strangely disorientated. He sat up in bed uneasily, trying to ignore the clamour of the servants outside. It was becoming a habit, this unease with which he woke, one that he didn’t want to get used to. The servants were getting louder outside his door, probably wondering if they dared wake him. The noise died down and Seishiro’s senses picked up upon the lull before the storm. There was a knock on the door and he called the person to enter, trying not to sound as awful as he felt. One of the doors opened a fraction and Narsus stepped inside.
“Good morning, Seishiro.”
“Narsus. This is a supprise.” He tried to make it sound as offensive as possible in the hope that Narsus would just leave.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. I just didn’t sleep too well last night.”
“Oh. Any particular reason why?” Narsus’ voice sounded teasing, almost playful.
Seishiro blinked, squinting with his one good eye. A fragment of a previously unremembered dream floating on the surface of his consciousness. “Just a dream.” He muttered.
Narsus smiled slightly “Sometimes what we see in dreams...” he shrugged.
Seishiro looked at him sharply, Narsus didn’t appear to notice. “The King would like to see you to discuss security arrangements for the upcoming tournament.” He said and then left the room.
Something was very wrong, all Seishiro’s predator senses screamed it but he couldn’t tell what. Just for a moment though, the insinuation that dreams might work as premonitions , it sounded like something the DreamGazer, Kayou would say… Seishiro blinked as the sudden knowledge vanished equally as fast. He knew what DreamGazers were but who the hell was Kayou? Just like the rest of the population of his recent dreams, the tall youth with the cruel eyes who smiled so coldly just before he kissed Seishiro or the young man with fathomless green eyes who called him Seishiro-san in such a sweet voice. He shook his head and got up to get ready to go see the King.
The week-long tournament had gone well Arslan mused. The citizens of Ekubatana had enjoyed the holiday, the soldiers had enjoyed the chance to test their skill and Narsus, as the strategist himself had pointed out, had enjoyed the view. The King made his way though the palace towards the chambers shared by Daryoon and Narsus. Politely knocking on the doors Arslan received a grunt, which sounded very much like Daryoon, as admittance. He was surprised to find Daryoon stretched out on a couch on his stomach, with Narsus leaning over him massaging his back.
“Oh! Daryoon are you injured?” Arslan asked.
“Umm… sort of, Your Majesty.” The General looked embarrassed.
“All the strain of battle.” Narsus added.
Arslan looked sympathetic “I’ll talk to you later then.” He said and left.
Narsus laughed softly.
“I don’t see what you find so funny!” Daryoon growled.
“At least his Majesty thinks they’re battle injuries.”
“They are.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
“Well… last night I encountered a very rare creature indeed.”
“Really?” Narsus was laughing now.
“Oh, yes. Quite lovely but rather deadly too.”
More laughter.
“I had to wrestle it to the ground and…”
“And?”
“…it wanted to be on top!”
Narsus blushed. Daryoon sat up and continued “It’s also the only one in existence, the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on.” He brushed a hand along Narsus’ cheek and Narsus leaned into his touch. “So I must be a pretty good hunter to have caught it!” Daryoon finished smugly.
“I am not caught!” Narsus stood up or at least would have if Daryoon hadn’t grabbed him round the waist and dragged him to the floor. Daryoon leaned over him, keeping him pinned flat on his back. A rather undignified sound that could only be described as a squawk escaped the strategist as he wriggled to get free. “The floor’s cold!” Narsus wailed. Daryoon grinned roguishly, “Payback!” he said before bending to capture the soft lips that were ready to sprout a string of obscenities.
Much
later…
Daryoon sighed, they’d have to get off the floor soon, not that Narsus showed any sign of moving or even waking up even though he was pressed again cold marble. Decision made Daryoon stood up, stretching. Still no movement from Narsus. Daryoon silently bend down and gathered his love up in his arms, carried him to the bed and deposited him there all without Narsus stirring. Daryoon lay down beside him, content to simply lie there and think. It always struck him as strange the way that Narsus could sleep though almost anything normally but could awaken instantly at the slightest indication of something being amiss. He recalled a rather frightening incident where as assassin had been sent, had managed to get inside the palace and into Narsus bed chamber, right up to the bed only to have the sleeping strategist defend himself without even knowing. Daryoon shuddered, the guards had arrived to find that Narsus had almost throttled the man in his sleep. Trying to push away that strange episode Daryoon’s thoughts turned to current matters. He was glad that Seishiro seemed to be keeping his distance from Narsus lately. Daryoon no longer wanted to kill the man but still held enough animosity to wish him some ill will. Yet lately Seishiro seemed quieter than usual, he looked haggard, perhaps his conscience was finally catching up with him and depriving him of sleep as it’s due.
Seishiro’s sleep was restless. He twisted beneath the sheets, eventually throwing them off in a desperate attempt to get free… and he dreamed…
“Sei-chan.” Someone called to him in the complete blackness
that surrounded him. “Sei-chan, there’s
something I want to show you.” His
mother’s voice. The blackness shifted,
rippling to reveal a single, grand cherry tree in full bloom. The pink blossoms suddenly whipped round him
in a brief gust. The ground was
blanketed with them.
“Seishiro-san” a soft voice called to him. Seishiro turned trying to find the source
“Subaru-kun?” he called out into the emptiness. Desperately searching for a pair of liquid green eyes. “…I don’t understand what you’re promising
me.” The voice of child Subaru called
out as he had all those years ago when the Bet had first been sealed. Seishiro looked round but there was nobody
there.
“Sakurazukamori.”
Said a voice behind him, cold and even.
“Fumma. No, Kamui.” Seishiro said steadily addressing Fumma by
his title as the Kamui of the Dragons of Earth as he turned, only to find
nothing again.
“Why?” another voice.
Seishiro looked about but still could find nothing.
“Why?” it came again, oddly familiar. “Why are you Sakurazukamori?” Seishiro looked about coldly “I simply
am.” He stated beginning to walk towards
the tree, HIS tree, the Sakura. Someone
was laughing “But what is Sakurazukamori?”
Seishiro frowned at the question “I’ll kill you as well.” He threatened the emptiness, “Just like all
the others.”
The voice laughed again
“But Seishiro, you already have.”
Seishiro neared the tree and quickly realised that the
Sakura already had a fresh corpse wound up in its branches. As he reached the base of the tree the
branches suddenly unwound, letting the body fall, ungraciously at Seishiro’s
feet.
Seishiro stared down, at the bloodless corpse of the
Imperial Artist.
Seishiro sat up in bed, the darkness of his room a welcome alternative to the all-encompassing darkness of the dream. What did it mean? A change from his earlier dreams that seemed to suggest that time was running out though he couldn’t explain why. The strange questions didn’t make any sense nor did the people who seemed oddly familiar, calling out to him. Was it possible that the Sakura was calling for blood, specifically for the blood of one who had been marked out for it? In the darkness Seishiro smiled perhaps it was a way to stop the strange dreams, at least he would try and if the dreams didn’t stop, he shrugged, they were only dreams. Still smiling Seishiro recovered his bed sheets and lay back down to sleep, having made up his mind… Narsus would die.
Two
months later…
Narsus strolled through the inner gardens of the palace, enjoying the isolation of the secluded area. He was completely alone, having slipped away unnoticed by the others just to have some time to himself. There was a movement in the grass causing Narsus to pause, then a slight sensation. Narsus looked down at his left boot to see a rather small, green snake gnawing at his foot, it kept going for a few moments then seemed to realise that it wasn’t getting anywhere, flicked it’s forked tongue out at him and slithered away. He couldn’t help but laugh, the little thing had actually been quite cute.
Hidden behind a nearby tree, Seishiro scowled. He could barely believe it, he, Sakurazukamori, inheritor of the Sakurazuka clan was reduced to trying to summon various poisonous creatures to accomplish his task. It was almost two months now since he’d decided to kill the strategist, almost two months of failed attempts. He’d tried everything from the blackest sorceries to mundane poisons and each and every time Narsus had escaped. Every time it looked like chance or fate taking a hand rather than Narsus actually being aware of the attempt against his life. Days filed with failures, nights filled with strange, unsettling dreams, always the same questions…
“What is Sakurazukamori?”
The same bloodless corpse, though recently the dream had varied, now more often than not, the eyes were open, staring up at him, almost mocking.
Seishiro made his way back to the main buildings of the palace. How long had he been here now, almost a year and why did that suddenly seem important? He stopped, it almost felt as if he was running away. Seishiro turned and started back into the garden, after Narsus.
Narsus didn’t look surprised to see Seishiro approach the stone bench where he was sitting. He stood, waiting. Seishiro stepped up to him, ready to deliver death with his own hands.
“Why?” Narsus questioned softly.
“I am Sakurazukamori, something of which you are already well aware.”
“Why are you Sakurazukamori?”
Seishiro blinked, startled… the dream…
“It falls to the inheritor of the Sakurazuka clan. It is my duty.” He managed to answer steadily.
“What is Sakurazukamori?”
“Guardian of the Cherry Blossom Burial Mound.” He answered, the meaning of the words suddenly striking him.
Narsus smiled, nodding. The inverted pentagrams on the backs of his hands flared brightly.
“But I can’t protect him! Subaru is my opposite. Fate has decreed that we fight, it’s foreordained, it has to be, my duty is to protect…” The memories came flooding back.
Narsus began walking back down one of the many paths that lead to the palace, he paused and turned back to face Seishiro.
“Nothing is foreordained.” Seishiro heard Narsus say, before his vision was obscured by cherry blossoms.
Seishiro faced Subaru gathering his strength to cast a final, deadly spell. Subaru looked anguished, “Seishiro-san” he whispered as he closed his eyes waiting for the fatal blast that would kill him. There was only silence, Subaru looked up, confused. His opponent was staring at him, something strangely gentle in his gaze.
“Seishiro-san?”
The assassin smiled as he stepped forward to pull Subaru into his arms.
“You know Subaru-kun, nothing is foreordained.”
Deep in
the DreamScape…
Kayou watched the scene unfold, much to the annoyance of his ‘Kamui’. Fumma slipped from the framework of Kayou’s premonitions, his face dark with anger. Sensing another presence Kayou turned.
“You should not interfere.” He admonished the older DreamGazer lightly.
“Our Kamui is not pleased.” Kayou continued, though his voice held a trace of amusement.
“I’m afraid he’s at least two millennia too late to stop me.” Came the reply as the other presence faded from Kayou’s dreamscape.
Later…
At last Seishiro had found what he was looking for, after hours spent searching through the archives of his clan, the ancient manuscript giving the lists of the past Sakurazukamori. He scanned quickly down the list looking for those names between the first century B.C and the first century A.D. Seishiro frowned and looked over the list again, then a though occurred to him. He found a manuscript detailing any other miscellaneous clan members of note and there it was; Lord Narsus, somehow related to the main clan, though how exactly is wasn’t clear. Seishiro began to check through the other related records. The enigmatic Lord Narsus seemed to appear every so often, every couple of centuries, same description, same demeanour, always somebody’s uncle or cousin, never directly in the line of inheritance, and every time he seemed to do something, something of note, something that generally went against the normal flow of events, a strange advisor to the clan. Seishiro looked over the timeline of the records, by all appearances Narsus was due back around now…
And in
the past…
Daryoon entered the room silently to find Narsus standing by the window, lost in though. The General crossed the room and wrapped his arms around Narsus from behind. The strategist leaned back against him, smiling a strangely knowing smile.
…and in a land far east of Pulsar, far across the seas, in a place that would one day be called Ueno Park, a single, grand cherry tree rustled it’s branches in a sudden breeze…
In 1999…
…the same breeze that stirred the blossoms on the tree in response to a change of fate, at the hand of a Sakurazukamori also gifted with the power of a DreamGazer.
Finally finished! This has turned into a very strange series. Initially just a one-shot comedy it became something much darker, then a way to change Sei-chan’s death and finally the re-emergence of an idea I had a while ago; what if there was a Sakurazukamori DreamGazer, could they change that which was suppose to be foreordained?
OK, more guest appearances from X/1999:
The ill-fated Subaru, Sei-chan’s opposite/prey,
Fumma, the Kamui of the Dragons of Earth, the Twin Star who didn’t get a choice,
And
The lovely Kayou, DreamGazer of the Dragons of Earth (who is speculated to have had a relationship with Subaru’s late sister).
Also a bit of an explanation, Sei-chan as one of the Dragons of Earth is supposed to destroy humanity to save the Earth, to allow it to regenerate, that’s what he’s protecting as Sakurazukamori. Though I also like to think that while the Sumeragi clan are protecting the innocent, the Sakurazuka clan then punish the guilty, which is why they’re assassins.
Plus… I don’t think Narsus’ abilities would have given Pulsar any advantage in the war with Lucitania. He’s not really a sorcerer at all and his premonitions are extremely hit and miss but he’s not really Sakurazukamori anyway.
So, that’s my take on it all.
Narsus (1.45am, 7/4/01)