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tampered2006-12-19 03:24 am
elegantorchid.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2006-12-19 03:24 am
[ complete ] Subaru-Ranmaru - In the Snow
When; Sometime after Kamui's meeting with Seishirou.
Rating; G [ Fluffs! ]
Characters; Subaru [![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ikigainashi], Ranmaru [elegantorchid
Summary; The calm before the storm, and raising hopes for a certain wish. A quiet winter's day, with someone precious like a gift. Ranmaru making snowmen, and Subaru being curious! ♥
Log;
With the snowfall having pretty much blanketed the city, Ranmaru hadn't wasted a moment in enjoying it. Naturally, this would kill the outdoor garden he had, but still. It was his own little private place (what house was complete without a garden!) and with the snowfall turning the pretty Japanese garden into a winter wonderland, the former page of the Akechi and Oda headed out to make full use of the snow- by playing in it.
He'd loved snow as a child, Mitsuhide-sama and him used to create forts and he used to play with him, shooting snowballs at each other. Ranmaru was dressed warmly, and at the moment, he was in front of six little snowmen, the fourth who he was now giving a stick, shaped like a sword. They were cute, roly-poly little things, but each of them was someone important, as one could tell if they looked close enough. There was Subaru and Kamui, Subaru's having a green pebble and a gold pebble for eyes, and Kamui's with a set mouth, There was Kurogane and Fai, Kurogane with a headband of the reverse crescent moon and Fai with a chirpy smile and a little mokona at his feet, and lastly, a snowman set, both with capes and set expressions.. Mitsuhide-sama and Nobunaga-sama. He smiled at them all as he knelt before them, adding this and that to make things look more like who they were to represent..
Snow was so much fun when you knew what you were doing with it.
Subaru had enjoyed the snow when he was younger because of his sister. She had always loved snowmen and such things, too, and of course Subaru couldn't help but get dragged into her games. And of course, he had fun, even if he wasn't as rambunctious about it as her.
He could remember a winter with Hokuto and Seishirou...
With a sigh, he moved away from the window he'd been leaning against, having been watching Ranmaru from inside for nearly fifteen minutes now. He might as well go ask him how he was doing... Not to mention he was craving a cigarette.
As soon as he stepped out, one was lit and perched between his lips while he cocked his head at the last two snowmen Ranmaru was working on. He vaguely recognized the others, but those he didn't know.
Subaru's voice was quiet as he stepped up behind Ranmaru's crouched figure. "From your time?"
He was giving the one with Mitsuhide a slight raise of bangs over his head, when he heard Subaru's voice. The smell of nicotine in the air made him frown a little - it's why he wasn't surprised when Subaru spoke, since he'd smelled him, but he didn't say anything to it, instead, continuing to work on the snowman. "Mitsuhide-sama." he introduced that snowman to Subaru, standing up and dusting off the snow from his boots and knees, and waved a hand at the other. "And Nobunaga-sama. My Lords." there was a touch of pride in his voice as he spoke, and he turned to look up at Subaru with a smile.
"How long were you watching?" his nose crinkled at the smoke smell but having been used to Nobunaga's pipe-smoking habits, he didn't complain.
"Hm... Does it matter?" His head tilted as he sunk down beside him, holding the cigarette off to the side while glancing at the two. He then looked sideways to Ranmaru. He couldn't help his moderate curiosity.
"Ranmaru-san... I recall you saying that before, you died in this City. Does that mean you came here while you were still alive?"
It would have made more sense for him to come after his death, as at least in history books, he died young. But he was curious which point in his life Ranmaru had come from.
Moving a hand almost fondly over the cute face of the Mitsuhide-snowman, Ranmaru blinked when the question was asked. Turning to look at Subaru, his brow furrowed in concentration as he began to think back, then smiled a little and nodded. "Ranmaru was alive when Ranmaru came to the city." he told him. "Ranmaru gave his life to Zack-nii. Then Kaen-sama, a deity here, made Ranmaru his servant." the boy stopped, glancing down, as he began to gather some snow at the Nobunaga-snowman's base self-consciously. He didn't want to go into the details of his servitude, which had involved an intense amount of pain.
"Subaru-san will now say Ranmaru existed in his history, like Tatsumi-san's, ne?" he asked, bringing on a smile on his face as he turned to look at Subaru. He was sharp, and sometimes, it was a stab in the dark, but he was good at reading people's intent. Being a page and someone in servitude probably added to it.
Subaru sighed. To know that Ranmaru died for such a reason... He wasn't surprised at all. He was so giving that he seemed to never think of himself.
"Mm. Well, that deity is no longer here... So you're no longer his servant. But... Serving under Akechi Mitsuhide-san...and Oda Nobunaga-san... Were you happy? That is to say... Had any...problems arisen, before you were brought here?" He really couldn't help it. It was funny that the little snowmen were making him think of it, but Subaru wanted to find out just how close Ranmaru had been to his historical death before coming here.
If he was still building snowmen of both of them, then there was a chance there hadn't been any betrayal yet.
Ranmaru stopped, glancing at the two snowmen, before he flopped down on the snow, moving his arms over his knees and rest his chin on top of them. He patted a flat stone rising above the snow for Subaru to sit down on, and turned his gaze to look back at his creations. Strange that Subaru would ask him of this now, though Ranmaru hadn't ever spoken of home or his life before coming to the city to anyone, really. That was pain he didn't want to relive and affect life here.
But to Subaru, he replied. "Ranmaru was very happy. Both Lords were wonderful men. And they took care of Ranmaru too." Problems.. heh. Wouldn't you like to know. "Ranmaru favored Nobunaga-sama's reign, Mitsuhide-sama.. for some reason, did not.. and he betrayed me.. -- us." he quickly corrected himself, moving a hand up to tuck a stray hair behind his ear, eying the snowman. "Nobunaga-sama died at Honnoji in the fire, and Ranmaru was close to death as well.. but managing to escape, Ranmaru challenged Mitsuhide-sama at Azuchi castle. And Ranmaru killed him." he fell silent after that, remembering the events that led to Mitsuhide's death.. and the things he said before dying. "Nobunaga-sama's vassal, Hideyoshi-sama, aided Ranmaru then.. and then, when that was done.. Ranmaru was here." he sighed and lowered his head. "Ranmaru didn't even get time to mourn him." the events as told in history may have varied to some degree, but this was the path Ranmaru had indeed followed and through which, he had come here.
Sniffing slightly, Ranmaru then smiled and leaned back a bit. "Perhaps it was all for the best."
Strange... That wasn't the story he had read about, though it was certainly similar in some ways. He had known that Ranmaru had defended Nobunaga, but he didn't recall him being the one to kill Mitsuhide.
So then either history was faulty, which was perfectly possible, or he was from a different sort of Japan...which was also possible, though less so.
Exhaling softly, he slipped the cigarette behind him to put it out in the snow. "At least in history... You were supposed to have died that night. So... Perhaps, at least, it's for the best that you don't return...there."
He wasn't very good at comforting people. Subaru's optimism had disappeared during his teenage years thanks to Seishirou, but he was making an effort.
He paused, wondering about that. "Tatsumi-san said that too.. he knew of Ranmaru's brothers, who died defending Nobunaga-sama.. and he said, so did Ranmaru. Ranmaru doesn't understand why that went through.. in battle, thirteen days after Nobunaga-sama's death, Ranmaru killed him alone.." he looked down at his hands. "Nothing is left for Ranmaru to go back to, there. That's why Ranmaru was alright being dead here..." he didn't really want to be comforted, in all honesty. Which was why he wasn't really grieving. Though Subaru's words did make him smile a little and he flopped back against the cold snow, enjoying the crispness of it against his back and letting the flakes fly around him, as he moved his arms to his sides. Closing his eyes and then re-opening them to look at the sky, he turned to look at Subaru.
"Why do you ask?" he asked curiously.
While he could understand history books slipping up on minute details, he doubted they could have made a mistake quite that large. So, then, Ranmaru came from an alternate Japan? Bizarre.
This place really did sometimes make his head hurt.
At the very least, Ranmaru laying in the snow and looking terribly pretty did plenty to ease his headache, and he draped an arm across his knee while looking down at him.
"I was merely curious. Neither of us seem to have anything to go back to... Mm... Especially if Kamui is also trapped here forever. Though, your friend Zack-san regained his life because of you...and you regained yours... There might be hope for Kamui, even if he doesn't think of it that way."
"Kamui-kun has been through far too much to be optimistic without having evidence of it, firsthand." he told him softly. He felt sorry for the boy, having been through so much to make himself miserable in years he should have been joyous. It made Ranmaru wonder, though. He had seen so much in his years, killed so many, battled so much, yet he always saw a reason to keep moving on. Was this the difference between a master and a servant? If that was the case, then he'd rather be the servant forever. He did not want to grieve forever and waste his time.
"It's strange.. when Mitsuhide-sama and Nobunaga-sama fought, Ranmaru was shattered and nearly dying, both in spirit and body. Nobunaga-sama however, took his own life in honor-- and told Ranmaru to let his dream live. It was why Ranmaru survived.. and everything, in that night, was taken from Ranmaru.." he closed his eyes, then moved his hand to brush the tips of his bare fingers against Subaru's. ".. when Mitsuhide-sama died, he promised to meet in a world with no war. For the longest time, Ranmaru thought he was being punished for killing him." Re-opening his eyes, he looked at Subaru and smiled a bit.
"But it seems as though Ranmaru has his Lords' blessings. Ranmaru only wishes he could know for sure."
Ranmaru's touch made him look back over again, his gaze having wandered to the small snowmen while listening. It was understandable that Kamui thought the way he did... And he was amazed that despite everything, Ranmaru had never lost all hope like Kamui seemed to.
Like Subaru himself had almost seemed to.
Closing his gloved hand around Ranmaru's, he squeezed gently and murmured, "Mn, well... There might be a way for you to find out for sure. I haven't really tried anything of the sort since coming here, but even with the City's limiters, there's a chance you could use me to communicate with one of them."
Subaru wasn't positive he could do it, of course... Even back in Tokyo, the spirits he had communicated with had been recent deaths...and he'd been able to use things that connected them to the material realm. But, if Ranmaru had something connected to them, he figured it ought to work.
...In theory.
"You haven't..?" Ranmaru sat up, shaking his head slightly, the snowflakes falling off his silky hair as he did so. Kneeling in front of Subaru, Ranmaru's eyes widened in interest. "Sou.. Subaru-san is an onmyoujin.." he murmured, reminding himself. Then, curiosity overtook his expression and still holding Subaru's hand, Ranmaru moved his own over his, holding it. "Subaru-san is saying, if Ranmaru has anything of theirs with him, Ranmaru can speak with them..?"
The smile that had begun to appear on Ranmaru's face faded before it came, and he looked to a side. "Will it.. work if those things were given into Ranmaru's possession? Would that not make Ranmaru the own.." he paused, realising what he had done and looked at Subaru in alarm. Without realising it, he had begun to continue on about Subaru's onmyoujitsu when the other hadn't even offered it. "Fo-Forgive Ranmaru, Subaru-san, I went ahead of myself..." he quickly said, cheeks flushing pink. "Ranmaru didn't mean to be rude.. it is unnecessary.. ah.." he lowered his head.
The hope in Ranmaru's eyes had nearly broken Subaru's heart. It hurt him knowing that Ranmaru still wasn't at peace with his past because of such uncertainty. He wanted to help, truly, but he was afraid that if it didn't work, he would have gotten poor Ranmaru's hopes up for nothing.
Still, he wasn't going to let Ranmaru pass up the chance, either, when he obviously wanted it so badly.
"Silly." He squeezed Ranmaru's hand tight and leaned over to light bump their foreheads together, forcing the boy to meet his gaze. "I was offering. I wouldn't bring up such a thing if I didn't intend to go through with it. You think me so cruel?"
The blush grew stronger at Subaru's words, and for that moment, Ranmaru couldn't help but laugh sheepishly. He hadn't exactly thought Subaru as cruel, but.. it wasn't as though many people -did- things for him. It was only after coming here that he'd experienced the joy of that, somewhat. The concept was still strange to him, which was why it never even occurred to him to think anyone was offering him anything.
Moving close to lay a light kiss to the side of Subaru's mouth, Ranmaru smiled and shook his head a bit. "Ranmaru thinks you not cruel.. but Ranmaru doesn't want you feeling bad if it does not work. It's alright." he gave the other a radiant, assuring smile. "Ranmaru will meet them someday, somehow. This person knows it." he stroked the back of Subaru's hands a little, then looked back into Subaru's eyes.
"So.. does it matter, if the things that were there, are owned by this person, now..?"
Sometimes it seemed as if Ranmaru was a mind reader. His constant need to reassure Subaru nearly made him smile. Nearly. Instead, he hummed softly and leaned back again to glance up towards the sky.
"That would make it your possession, not theirs. However...it would still be connected to them, as they were owners at one time. It should still work, if it works at all. But I'll need a bit of time to prepare for this..."
He had gotten to the point where Subaru was strong enough so that he hardly purified himself before a ceremony anymore, but something to this extent... He would rather not take his chances.
"Would it be all right to try in a few days? I hate to make you wait, but I would like to make sure this works."
"There is no hurry." Ranmaru quickly assured him, moving a hand up as if to say 'take it easy'. "Ranmaru doesn't want you to strain yourself, not after all that's occurring." his smile grew softer, and he looked down, a gesture showing his shyness in saying what he did next.
"Ranmaru appreciates that you would do this.." he whispered. Shaking his head, he raised his gaze to meet Subaru's eyes, and for the while that he did, he merely said thank you with his gaze, expressing his understanding and gratitude through that. Then, without another word, he leaned forward and captured Subaru' mouth in a chaste kiss, though he kept it somewhat lingering as he slowly drew back, but not too far from the other.
"Subaru-san's lips are warm." he whispered, smiling playfully at him. It helped to ease Subaru's mind with such distractions, so he wouldn't strain himself for it.
He wasn't sure why, but the kiss actually caught him off guard. Perhaps because he had been so very distracted staring at Ranmaru's face and wishing he could only do more for him.
The light-hearted and teasing comment actually made the corners of his lips tug upward, and his eyes lit up just a bit as he leaned in close once more. There was no way to hide his blush, but he had long since stopped trying.
"Thoughts of you often make it so, anata," he shyly teased back.
His own blush intensified as he was adressed with that term of endearment, the very same one he had been using the entirety of the day they had been 'wed' and he let out a short chuckle, poking his nose with Subaru's and keeping a hold of his hand. Sometimes, he wasn't sure if Subaru was happy with their relationship, but times like this made him feel as though there was nothing to worry about. Raising his other hand, he gently brushed Subaru's cheek and stroked it delicately.
He wanted Subaru to be happy, his precious, pretty Subaru-san. He knew couldn't be the Seishirou that Subaru had loved, but at least, for now.. he could be him, and he could help him walk ahead.
"Ah, so that will explain why this person feels no cold." and it was true, despite wearing warm layers- he was still pretty much dressed as he normally did and apart from his fingers, he was quite warm. "For the thoughts of Subaru-san return the pleasure." he teased then, blushing so hard that the tips of his ears went red and he smiled at him.
"Come, let us go inside.." he spoke quickly. "Best that we do so before we freeze out here, ne?" with that, he smiled and took Subaru's hands, leading him inside. Master or no masters, he had Kurogane, Fai, Roxas and Kamui and Tatsumi. He had his friends.
And he had Subaru, his love. For now.. that was all that mattered. And he hoped it'd stay that way.
Rating; G [ Fluffs! ]
Characters; Subaru [
ikigainashi], Ranmaru [elegantorchidSummary; The calm before the storm, and raising hopes for a certain wish. A quiet winter's day, with someone precious like a gift. Ranmaru making snowmen, and Subaru being curious! ♥
Log;
With the snowfall having pretty much blanketed the city, Ranmaru hadn't wasted a moment in enjoying it. Naturally, this would kill the outdoor garden he had, but still. It was his own little private place (what house was complete without a garden!) and with the snowfall turning the pretty Japanese garden into a winter wonderland, the former page of the Akechi and Oda headed out to make full use of the snow- by playing in it.
He'd loved snow as a child, Mitsuhide-sama and him used to create forts and he used to play with him, shooting snowballs at each other. Ranmaru was dressed warmly, and at the moment, he was in front of six little snowmen, the fourth who he was now giving a stick, shaped like a sword. They were cute, roly-poly little things, but each of them was someone important, as one could tell if they looked close enough. There was Subaru and Kamui, Subaru's having a green pebble and a gold pebble for eyes, and Kamui's with a set mouth, There was Kurogane and Fai, Kurogane with a headband of the reverse crescent moon and Fai with a chirpy smile and a little mokona at his feet, and lastly, a snowman set, both with capes and set expressions.. Mitsuhide-sama and Nobunaga-sama. He smiled at them all as he knelt before them, adding this and that to make things look more like who they were to represent..
Snow was so much fun when you knew what you were doing with it.
Subaru had enjoyed the snow when he was younger because of his sister. She had always loved snowmen and such things, too, and of course Subaru couldn't help but get dragged into her games. And of course, he had fun, even if he wasn't as rambunctious about it as her.
He could remember a winter with Hokuto and Seishirou...
With a sigh, he moved away from the window he'd been leaning against, having been watching Ranmaru from inside for nearly fifteen minutes now. He might as well go ask him how he was doing... Not to mention he was craving a cigarette.
As soon as he stepped out, one was lit and perched between his lips while he cocked his head at the last two snowmen Ranmaru was working on. He vaguely recognized the others, but those he didn't know.
Subaru's voice was quiet as he stepped up behind Ranmaru's crouched figure. "From your time?"
He was giving the one with Mitsuhide a slight raise of bangs over his head, when he heard Subaru's voice. The smell of nicotine in the air made him frown a little - it's why he wasn't surprised when Subaru spoke, since he'd smelled him, but he didn't say anything to it, instead, continuing to work on the snowman. "Mitsuhide-sama." he introduced that snowman to Subaru, standing up and dusting off the snow from his boots and knees, and waved a hand at the other. "And Nobunaga-sama. My Lords." there was a touch of pride in his voice as he spoke, and he turned to look up at Subaru with a smile.
"How long were you watching?" his nose crinkled at the smoke smell but having been used to Nobunaga's pipe-smoking habits, he didn't complain.
"Hm... Does it matter?" His head tilted as he sunk down beside him, holding the cigarette off to the side while glancing at the two. He then looked sideways to Ranmaru. He couldn't help his moderate curiosity.
"Ranmaru-san... I recall you saying that before, you died in this City. Does that mean you came here while you were still alive?"
It would have made more sense for him to come after his death, as at least in history books, he died young. But he was curious which point in his life Ranmaru had come from.
Moving a hand almost fondly over the cute face of the Mitsuhide-snowman, Ranmaru blinked when the question was asked. Turning to look at Subaru, his brow furrowed in concentration as he began to think back, then smiled a little and nodded. "Ranmaru was alive when Ranmaru came to the city." he told him. "Ranmaru gave his life to Zack-nii. Then Kaen-sama, a deity here, made Ranmaru his servant." the boy stopped, glancing down, as he began to gather some snow at the Nobunaga-snowman's base self-consciously. He didn't want to go into the details of his servitude, which had involved an intense amount of pain.
"Subaru-san will now say Ranmaru existed in his history, like Tatsumi-san's, ne?" he asked, bringing on a smile on his face as he turned to look at Subaru. He was sharp, and sometimes, it was a stab in the dark, but he was good at reading people's intent. Being a page and someone in servitude probably added to it.
Subaru sighed. To know that Ranmaru died for such a reason... He wasn't surprised at all. He was so giving that he seemed to never think of himself.
"Mm. Well, that deity is no longer here... So you're no longer his servant. But... Serving under Akechi Mitsuhide-san...and Oda Nobunaga-san... Were you happy? That is to say... Had any...problems arisen, before you were brought here?" He really couldn't help it. It was funny that the little snowmen were making him think of it, but Subaru wanted to find out just how close Ranmaru had been to his historical death before coming here.
If he was still building snowmen of both of them, then there was a chance there hadn't been any betrayal yet.
Ranmaru stopped, glancing at the two snowmen, before he flopped down on the snow, moving his arms over his knees and rest his chin on top of them. He patted a flat stone rising above the snow for Subaru to sit down on, and turned his gaze to look back at his creations. Strange that Subaru would ask him of this now, though Ranmaru hadn't ever spoken of home or his life before coming to the city to anyone, really. That was pain he didn't want to relive and affect life here.
But to Subaru, he replied. "Ranmaru was very happy. Both Lords were wonderful men. And they took care of Ranmaru too." Problems.. heh. Wouldn't you like to know. "Ranmaru favored Nobunaga-sama's reign, Mitsuhide-sama.. for some reason, did not.. and he betrayed me.. -- us." he quickly corrected himself, moving a hand up to tuck a stray hair behind his ear, eying the snowman. "Nobunaga-sama died at Honnoji in the fire, and Ranmaru was close to death as well.. but managing to escape, Ranmaru challenged Mitsuhide-sama at Azuchi castle. And Ranmaru killed him." he fell silent after that, remembering the events that led to Mitsuhide's death.. and the things he said before dying. "Nobunaga-sama's vassal, Hideyoshi-sama, aided Ranmaru then.. and then, when that was done.. Ranmaru was here." he sighed and lowered his head. "Ranmaru didn't even get time to mourn him." the events as told in history may have varied to some degree, but this was the path Ranmaru had indeed followed and through which, he had come here.
Sniffing slightly, Ranmaru then smiled and leaned back a bit. "Perhaps it was all for the best."
Strange... That wasn't the story he had read about, though it was certainly similar in some ways. He had known that Ranmaru had defended Nobunaga, but he didn't recall him being the one to kill Mitsuhide.
So then either history was faulty, which was perfectly possible, or he was from a different sort of Japan...which was also possible, though less so.
Exhaling softly, he slipped the cigarette behind him to put it out in the snow. "At least in history... You were supposed to have died that night. So... Perhaps, at least, it's for the best that you don't return...there."
He wasn't very good at comforting people. Subaru's optimism had disappeared during his teenage years thanks to Seishirou, but he was making an effort.
He paused, wondering about that. "Tatsumi-san said that too.. he knew of Ranmaru's brothers, who died defending Nobunaga-sama.. and he said, so did Ranmaru. Ranmaru doesn't understand why that went through.. in battle, thirteen days after Nobunaga-sama's death, Ranmaru killed him alone.." he looked down at his hands. "Nothing is left for Ranmaru to go back to, there. That's why Ranmaru was alright being dead here..." he didn't really want to be comforted, in all honesty. Which was why he wasn't really grieving. Though Subaru's words did make him smile a little and he flopped back against the cold snow, enjoying the crispness of it against his back and letting the flakes fly around him, as he moved his arms to his sides. Closing his eyes and then re-opening them to look at the sky, he turned to look at Subaru.
"Why do you ask?" he asked curiously.
While he could understand history books slipping up on minute details, he doubted they could have made a mistake quite that large. So, then, Ranmaru came from an alternate Japan? Bizarre.
This place really did sometimes make his head hurt.
At the very least, Ranmaru laying in the snow and looking terribly pretty did plenty to ease his headache, and he draped an arm across his knee while looking down at him.
"I was merely curious. Neither of us seem to have anything to go back to... Mm... Especially if Kamui is also trapped here forever. Though, your friend Zack-san regained his life because of you...and you regained yours... There might be hope for Kamui, even if he doesn't think of it that way."
"Kamui-kun has been through far too much to be optimistic without having evidence of it, firsthand." he told him softly. He felt sorry for the boy, having been through so much to make himself miserable in years he should have been joyous. It made Ranmaru wonder, though. He had seen so much in his years, killed so many, battled so much, yet he always saw a reason to keep moving on. Was this the difference between a master and a servant? If that was the case, then he'd rather be the servant forever. He did not want to grieve forever and waste his time.
"It's strange.. when Mitsuhide-sama and Nobunaga-sama fought, Ranmaru was shattered and nearly dying, both in spirit and body. Nobunaga-sama however, took his own life in honor-- and told Ranmaru to let his dream live. It was why Ranmaru survived.. and everything, in that night, was taken from Ranmaru.." he closed his eyes, then moved his hand to brush the tips of his bare fingers against Subaru's. ".. when Mitsuhide-sama died, he promised to meet in a world with no war. For the longest time, Ranmaru thought he was being punished for killing him." Re-opening his eyes, he looked at Subaru and smiled a bit.
"But it seems as though Ranmaru has his Lords' blessings. Ranmaru only wishes he could know for sure."
Ranmaru's touch made him look back over again, his gaze having wandered to the small snowmen while listening. It was understandable that Kamui thought the way he did... And he was amazed that despite everything, Ranmaru had never lost all hope like Kamui seemed to.
Like Subaru himself had almost seemed to.
Closing his gloved hand around Ranmaru's, he squeezed gently and murmured, "Mn, well... There might be a way for you to find out for sure. I haven't really tried anything of the sort since coming here, but even with the City's limiters, there's a chance you could use me to communicate with one of them."
Subaru wasn't positive he could do it, of course... Even back in Tokyo, the spirits he had communicated with had been recent deaths...and he'd been able to use things that connected them to the material realm. But, if Ranmaru had something connected to them, he figured it ought to work.
...In theory.
"You haven't..?" Ranmaru sat up, shaking his head slightly, the snowflakes falling off his silky hair as he did so. Kneeling in front of Subaru, Ranmaru's eyes widened in interest. "Sou.. Subaru-san is an onmyoujin.." he murmured, reminding himself. Then, curiosity overtook his expression and still holding Subaru's hand, Ranmaru moved his own over his, holding it. "Subaru-san is saying, if Ranmaru has anything of theirs with him, Ranmaru can speak with them..?"
The smile that had begun to appear on Ranmaru's face faded before it came, and he looked to a side. "Will it.. work if those things were given into Ranmaru's possession? Would that not make Ranmaru the own.." he paused, realising what he had done and looked at Subaru in alarm. Without realising it, he had begun to continue on about Subaru's onmyoujitsu when the other hadn't even offered it. "Fo-Forgive Ranmaru, Subaru-san, I went ahead of myself..." he quickly said, cheeks flushing pink. "Ranmaru didn't mean to be rude.. it is unnecessary.. ah.." he lowered his head.
The hope in Ranmaru's eyes had nearly broken Subaru's heart. It hurt him knowing that Ranmaru still wasn't at peace with his past because of such uncertainty. He wanted to help, truly, but he was afraid that if it didn't work, he would have gotten poor Ranmaru's hopes up for nothing.
Still, he wasn't going to let Ranmaru pass up the chance, either, when he obviously wanted it so badly.
"Silly." He squeezed Ranmaru's hand tight and leaned over to light bump their foreheads together, forcing the boy to meet his gaze. "I was offering. I wouldn't bring up such a thing if I didn't intend to go through with it. You think me so cruel?"
The blush grew stronger at Subaru's words, and for that moment, Ranmaru couldn't help but laugh sheepishly. He hadn't exactly thought Subaru as cruel, but.. it wasn't as though many people -did- things for him. It was only after coming here that he'd experienced the joy of that, somewhat. The concept was still strange to him, which was why it never even occurred to him to think anyone was offering him anything.
Moving close to lay a light kiss to the side of Subaru's mouth, Ranmaru smiled and shook his head a bit. "Ranmaru thinks you not cruel.. but Ranmaru doesn't want you feeling bad if it does not work. It's alright." he gave the other a radiant, assuring smile. "Ranmaru will meet them someday, somehow. This person knows it." he stroked the back of Subaru's hands a little, then looked back into Subaru's eyes.
"So.. does it matter, if the things that were there, are owned by this person, now..?"
Sometimes it seemed as if Ranmaru was a mind reader. His constant need to reassure Subaru nearly made him smile. Nearly. Instead, he hummed softly and leaned back again to glance up towards the sky.
"That would make it your possession, not theirs. However...it would still be connected to them, as they were owners at one time. It should still work, if it works at all. But I'll need a bit of time to prepare for this..."
He had gotten to the point where Subaru was strong enough so that he hardly purified himself before a ceremony anymore, but something to this extent... He would rather not take his chances.
"Would it be all right to try in a few days? I hate to make you wait, but I would like to make sure this works."
"There is no hurry." Ranmaru quickly assured him, moving a hand up as if to say 'take it easy'. "Ranmaru doesn't want you to strain yourself, not after all that's occurring." his smile grew softer, and he looked down, a gesture showing his shyness in saying what he did next.
"Ranmaru appreciates that you would do this.." he whispered. Shaking his head, he raised his gaze to meet Subaru's eyes, and for the while that he did, he merely said thank you with his gaze, expressing his understanding and gratitude through that. Then, without another word, he leaned forward and captured Subaru' mouth in a chaste kiss, though he kept it somewhat lingering as he slowly drew back, but not too far from the other.
"Subaru-san's lips are warm." he whispered, smiling playfully at him. It helped to ease Subaru's mind with such distractions, so he wouldn't strain himself for it.
He wasn't sure why, but the kiss actually caught him off guard. Perhaps because he had been so very distracted staring at Ranmaru's face and wishing he could only do more for him.
The light-hearted and teasing comment actually made the corners of his lips tug upward, and his eyes lit up just a bit as he leaned in close once more. There was no way to hide his blush, but he had long since stopped trying.
"Thoughts of you often make it so, anata," he shyly teased back.
His own blush intensified as he was adressed with that term of endearment, the very same one he had been using the entirety of the day they had been 'wed' and he let out a short chuckle, poking his nose with Subaru's and keeping a hold of his hand. Sometimes, he wasn't sure if Subaru was happy with their relationship, but times like this made him feel as though there was nothing to worry about. Raising his other hand, he gently brushed Subaru's cheek and stroked it delicately.
He wanted Subaru to be happy, his precious, pretty Subaru-san. He knew couldn't be the Seishirou that Subaru had loved, but at least, for now.. he could be him, and he could help him walk ahead.
"Ah, so that will explain why this person feels no cold." and it was true, despite wearing warm layers- he was still pretty much dressed as he normally did and apart from his fingers, he was quite warm. "For the thoughts of Subaru-san return the pleasure." he teased then, blushing so hard that the tips of his ears went red and he smiled at him.
"Come, let us go inside.." he spoke quickly. "Best that we do so before we freeze out here, ne?" with that, he smiled and took Subaru's hands, leading him inside. Master or no masters, he had Kurogane, Fai, Roxas and Kamui and Tatsumi. He had his friends.
And he had Subaru, his love. For now.. that was all that mattered. And he hoped it'd stay that way.