Log; complete

[nomorechains.livejournal.com]

When; Late Tuesday night/early Wednesday Morning
Rating; G
Characters; Sakurazuka Subaru [Bad username or site: ikigainashi / @ livejournal.com], Mori Ranmaru [Bad username or site: elegantorchid / @ livejournal.com], and Lawrence Hill [Bad username or site: nomorechains / @ livejournal.com]
Summary; Subaru comes home from guarding Trixie the sakura tree, to find a strange American boy in his apartment.
Log;

Exhaustion wasn't the word for it.

After initially discovering a body by the sakura tree, Subaru had stayed nearby almost constantly during the last forty-eight hours. He had only left to stretch his legs and to take short breaks...or to get the hell away from Seishirou. It was masochistic of him to even stay near the man, but he couldn't help it if Seishirou insisted on keeping the Tree company with him.

When Greed, Dietrich, and Kurama had offered their assistance, that had made the entire thing easier, but he could tell that he still hadn't helped at all. Innocents had died. Children had died. All for the sakura.

Was it really because Subaru had neglected his duties as the Sakurazukamori? He didn't want to even think of that. He didn't want to have to kill anyone again.

It had been awhile after midnight that he noticed nobody coming near the Tree anymore, and established that the 'curse' was over. A celebratory cigarette was mildly enjoyed before he tore himself away from guarding the Tree and being near Seishirou. He needed to get home. Maybe Ranmaru would be there. Some tea with him would be nice...

But when he jumped to the balcony and slid open the glass door, he was surprised to find the American boy in the living room instead...playing with the small white kitten.

Subaru's expression was unreadable when he stepped in and slid the door shut behind him, but he felt a pang of dissapointment. Was Ranmaru out...?



It had been a while since he'd seen Ranmaru, since the man had gone out somewhere. Lawr wasn't really sure when he'd return, if at all, but wasn't worried. Ranmaru was sweet, with a good heart. If he said he'd return, then he would. Lawr had full faith in that. It hadn't been long after he'd been left alone in the apartment that he'd seen the kitten, though. It was adorable, and he hadn't been able to resist the urge to play with it. Besides, he didn't want to intrude on anything he shouldn't in someone else's apartment. Playing with the kitten should be fine, though, right?

He knew it was someone else's pet, but for some reason, the kitten brought back memories of playing with Wolfie, Adrian's iguana. Granted, it had been far less agile and adorable, but still.. They'd been friends, and it was a comfort to wake up and see Wolfie staring up at him demanding breakfast, instead of some strange man. So it was somewhat nostalgic for him, despite the difference in species.

He wasn't expecting it, though, when the glass door leading to the balcony opened, and a young man with black hair walked in. It wouldn't have been so weird if it was the front door, but.. the balcony? He jumped to his feet, cradling the kitten in his arms, and glared, demanding, "Who are you, and how did you get in here?"



Subaru's eyes narrowed visibly at what he deemed an intruder. An intruder holding his kitten no less. Then he paused and thought back. Ranmaru had...mentioned somebody staying at the apartment, but Subaru had been so caught up in the drama with the tree that it hadn't really registered.

He had said...the name was...

"...Lawr-san?" he murmured, his voice soft as he leaned over to untie his boots and slip out of them. ABle to move around freely now, Subaru was quick to walk up to the other. "I live here, and you're holding my kitten, Hokuto-chan. May I have her back now? Do you know where Ranmaru-san is?



He lived here? Ranmaru had mentioned a roommate... It was plausible. The glare dissipated, and he handed the kitten over. "I.. apologize. Her name is Hokuto-chan? She's adorable."

Distraction gone, Lawr didn't quite know what to do with himself. He shook his head, punctuated by a slight shrug. "I don't. I think he mentioned something about a celebration, and that he'd be back soon, though..."

Taking notice of the boots, it struck Lawr that he hadn't seen this person until just now, despite the day that he'd been here. A slight frown crossed his face as he asked, "Have you been out this entire time? Shall I make you something to eat?"



Subaru accepted the fluffy kitten, bringing her up to his face to gently bump his forehead against hers. She rewarded him with a kiss to the nose, and he was glad that she blocked anybody's view of his light smile. It was gone by the time he lowered her to the ground so that she could totter off to assault a toy mouse.

Celebration...? Ranmaru hadn't mentioned anything like that. He was out celebrating while Subaru had been fending off attackers at the tree? Well...a celebration was what Ranmaru deserved. He was only a teenager, after all, and he had a hard enough life.

With an inaudible sigh, the young man reached up to rub at his shoulder as he eyed the boy in front of him. Young looking. Couldn't be any older than fifteen, right? Still, his stance and his eyes suggested a wisdom beyond his age.

Mismatched eyes fluttering shut for a moment, Subaru stepped back to bow a little. "My name is Sakurazuka Subaru. Pleased to meet you."

And then he was straightening up and brushing past the boy to head to the kitchen. "Yes I have. And no thank you, I can cook for myself. It's late... I'm sure you should be asleep."



Asleep? Really? How was he supposed to? Transported to some bizarre place after dying, and swept away with one of the sweetest people he's ever met? Not to mention the strangeness he'd heard about going on. Murders, and something about a tree? It was all too exciting. "How can I really be expected to sleep when so much is happening?"

Lawr sauntered over to the couch, sitting at the end and leaning on the armrest as he studied his surroundings, eyes flickering about before settling on Subaru. "Lawrence Hill, but Lawr is perfect. It's nice to meet you too, Subaru."

A smile crossed his face as he noticed Hokuto-chan playing with the mouse, and he motioned to her. "How old is she? She's adorable."



Casting a glance over his shoulder before stepping into the kitchen, Subaru spoke just a touch louder to make sure he was heard, though it still had a silky soft feeling to it. A raised voice was always the last resort.

"I'm not certain. I found her a little while ago. I'm assuming she's around four months old. She acts older, though." He wasn't sure when Ranmaru would return, or if Lawrence liked tea, but just in case he filled the kettle up before setting it on the burner and turning the stove on.

Walking as quietly and smoothly as he spoke, Subaru exited the kitchen and walked over towards the closet, shedding his coat while he eyed the boy on the couch.

"But I suppose that's a self defense mechanism that strays pick up." And he wasn't just talking about cats.



"Hmmm, I suppose." The corners of his mouth quirked as Lawr watched Subaru walk to the closet. He was pretty perceptive, wasn't he? His eyes spoke of sadness, though. Not quite like Adrian's which was wild and frightened, but.... isolated. Lonely. What sort of life had he led, the boy wondered. "You need claws to be able to survive. It's only natural."

He could tell that Subaru was kind, too, picking up and caring for a stray kitten. He seemed so.. disenchanted, though, so distant, working to separate himself from others. What had happened to him...?

Eyes focused back on the kitten, he murmured, "So, how sharp are your claws?"



After shutting the closet door, Subaru folded his arms across his chest and stood there, surprisingly still for a full three minutes as he watched Lawrence play with the kitten. Her claws were incredibly sharp, and they reminded Subaru of needles. Lawrence didn't seem to mind, though...

Claws to survive, hm...

The onmyouji was startled out of his daze by the sound of the kettle whistling, and he was quick to move back to the kitchen to transfer the hot water into into the tea pot. He had let it go for too long... It wasn't supposed to boil.

Brow crinkling at how tired he was, considering he hadn't slept the previous night, Subaru stared at the pot in frustration for a moment before pulling the bowl and the whisk out of the cabinet so that he could mix the green tea powder with the water. Hopefully it wouldn't be too bitter...

Remembering the guest, Subaru called out, "Would you like any tea?"



His attention pulled away by the sudden sound of the kettle, Lawr looked up, watching Subaru frown at the tea pot. He smiled, resisting the urge to laugh. For all the seriousness he wore on his face, it was a cute expression. It made him curious, had him wondering just what else he refused to show others.

"Tea? Hmmm.. please? It sounds good..." He tilted his head to the side a little, a slight frown creasing his brow as he studied Subaru. "Are you sure you shouldn't get some rest? You seem a bit... off. Then again, I've only just met you, so I could be wrong."

It was intriguing. Where had Subaru been the past day, and what had he been doing? He was tempted to ask, but decided against it. He didn't want to pry, at least not yet. He pulled himself off the couch and wandered to the kitchen, leaning against the counter. "Need help with anything?"



Subaru stiffened a bit at Lawrence's sudden proximity, but he remained where he was as he continued to mix the tea. He preferred the powder over the leaves, even if it was a bit more of a pain to make.

"No. Thank you, I'm fine," he murmured. Why had Ranmaru brought this child home? It was clear just from his body language that he could fend for himself, and he seemed more excited over the most recent curse instead of appalled by it. It was clear to Subaru that death didn't offend him.

So then why? Was it because of that jaded outlook? Did Ranmaru want to 'fix' him, like he seemed to want to 'fix' Subaru?

Pondering that, he set the tea pot and two small cups onto a tray before lifting it to carry it out to set it on the Japanese style table. After sinking onto his knees, he poured the tea and set one cup across the table from him for Lawrence. Really, strangers made him uncomfortable, but this person seemed interesting, and he wanted to know what Ranmaru saw in him.

But that didn't mean he was going to ask any questions. Lawrence's history wasn't his business.



Defensive, too. Was it really so hard to accept assistance from someone? Lawr followed him to the table, looking at it in puzzled wonder. It was so low to the ground... How did someone sit at it without bumping their knees? He glanced at Subaru, seeing how he was sitting, and going to the other side of the table to mimic it. How uncomfortable, did he always sit like this? Maybe that's why he seemed so uptight..

One hand wrapped loosely around the cup, Lawrence smiled, nodding his head slightly to Subaru. "Thank you," he said, before lifting the cup to his lips and taking a sip. His eyes widened slightly, and he looked at the tea in his cup. "What sort of tea is this? It's.. I've never had it before."



That managed to get a mildly puzzled look out of Subaru. "It's green tea. You've never had any? I thought it was getting popular in America..."

Perhaps he'd been wrong... Or maybe Lawrence had been raise of a more rural part? Either way, he was somewhat pleased to be able to offer Ranmaru his first cup of green tea. Probably better than anything they had in the Japanese restaurants over in the states, anyway.

"It's a good tea to wake up to. If you like it, I can teach you how to make it."



Green tea? Didn't they drink that in Japan? Lawr remembered seeing it on a menu posted in the window of some Japanese restaurant he'd passed by once. It had been on his way home one night, after he'd been sent out to do his job. Remembering it sent a slight shudder down his spine.

"It might have been popular, I'm not sure. I didn't get a chance to try any while I was.. still there." He caught himself, about to say 'while I was still alive.' While it seemed to be true that the dead could walk once more here, he didn't know whether it would bother Subaru or not to be sitting with a dead boy. Best not to mention it until he was sure.

A smile spread across his face, and he took another sip of tea. "Would you? That would be fun.."



Subaru had just been about to ask where Lawrence was from in America when his senses caught up on the presence outside the door. No... Two. There were two people.

Setting down his tea cup, Subaru lifted his hand to motion for Lawrence to stay put before he swiftly stood and moved over to the door. Carefully, he pressed his ear to the door to listen, and a moment was all he needed before that rare flicker of fear touched his eyes and he immediately opened the door to find Fuuma and a...rather intoxicated Ranmaru arguing outside.

Quickly, he stepped out and shut the door behind him so that all the boy inside would be able to hear were muffled voices. A couple minutes passed before Ranmaru was suddenly dragging him back inside, a rather bewildered expression on Subaru's face as the door was shut on Fuuma.

Oh, oh, he just knew that was going to come back and bite him tomorrow.



Ranmaru on the other hand didn't quite care about the state he was in. Running into Fuuma had pretty much brought out nearly all of his frustration towards the man, though in his condition it was pretty difficult to assess what sort of damage he should do-- and the headache was making it impossible for him to really focus. However, a blur passed and he wasn't outside anymore, but with Lawrence in sight, and Subaru-san in his hold, oh pretty, pretty, the both of them. But they were telling him to go to bed, and that just wasn't right! He needed to stay awake!! The night wasn't even... was it night? He shrugged, then laughing a little, he muttered, "Too early..."

He could hear Lawrence's voice telling him sleep was good, but he shook his head and walked ahead. No, he would do this HIS way. Why didn't anyone ever want to do what he asked? He'd make them!

Beaming brightly, he flopped down on the couch and tugged Subaru next to him, extending his arms to the opposite sides of his body to lace them around Subaru's neck to his left and Lawrence's to the right, bending his head as though in serious contemplation, then whispered, "You have to promise Ranmaru something first!!"



Lawr wasn't quite sure what to think when Subaru motioned for him to keep seated, but he was certain that something was up, especially when he stepped outside and shut the door. He stood, stretching his legs, and looked over at Hokuto, asking, "How can they sit like that? My legs are killing me."

He walked towards the door, voices heard but words indistinct. What was going on out there...? And then the door was open, Ranmaru pulling a rather confused-looking Subaru inside and shutting the door. "Ranmaru...?"

It was only a second after he noticed the expression on Subaru's face that he too was latched onto and pulled towards the couch, an equally surprised look on his own face. He looked up at Ranmaru, smelling the alcohol on his breath, and chuckled. "What's that?"



Ranmaru might have been a warrior, and a strong one at that...but he was still younger and shorter than Subaru, so he was forced to hunch over a bit thanks to the way Ranmaru had hooked up on the couch. Glancing over the drunken teenager's head, he could see that he had latched onto Lawrence much the same way.

Still rather frazzled over that upsetting exchange with Fuuma, Subaru looked back down to Ranmaru, worry etched into his features. He stayed quiet, knowing Ranmaru would continue anyhow.

What promise?



A fit of giggles escaped the silver-eyed warrior as he tugged them both close, then he moved his arms back, motioning with his half-gloved hands as he spoke, as though he was telling them something incredibly confidential.

"Promise Ranmaru... you're not going to leave Ranmaru alone!" He looked at Lawrence, pointing at Subaru with what was a genuine pout and said, "And if Subbysan makes crying faces, tell me! He hides in his coat!" It was sadly comical, because he -was- trying to say something that made sense, but at this moment, his vocabulary had taken a deep dive into the realm of nonsense. With an added laugh, he took Subaru's hand and then Lawrence's, squeezing them gently. "S'not nice to leave friends alone~ Subaru-san does! Don't be bad again." a weaker chuckle as he turned his eyes to Lawrence with a sheepish smile. "Ranmaru won't leave Lawr-kun alone... but when Adrian comes here... don't leave Adrian alone! O-kay?" The eyes he made were shamelessly cute, a face he often used to bring Elena down, and he playfully, drunkenly punched Subaru's knee.

"Ranmaru... can't even... save you. Heh.." his eyelids were growing heavier and he lowered his head. "Some warrior..."



Leave him alone? How could he? Ranmaru had shown him such kindness, a stranger that he'd only known for a day. How could he leave him alone? Lawr smiled, resisting the urge to laugh at hearing the nickname for Subaru. Subbysan? How cute. But... 'crying faces'? It was hard to imagine one as stoic-seeming as Subaru crying. He'd have to make sure to watch for that. And of course lend him an ear, should he need someone to talk to.

...'when Adrian comes here...' How was he so sure that the man would turn up at all? From what he'd heard, it was just random. Still, it hurt to think of being here, in this strange place, without Adrian. Perhaps it'd just be better to think like Ranmaru, and wait for the day he'd show up. "..I promise I won't leave him alone. I'll be with him as much as I can. I might have to move out, but... I'll still bring Adrian to come visit a lot." His voice was quiet, so he wasn't even sure if he was heard, but he still continued. "I promise, I'll come to visit. I won't leave you alone."

But.. who was he trying to save? Subaru? If so, then what was he saving him from? It just made him more curious. He wanted to ask, but didn't want to step past his boundaries. It was... interesting. He looked up and over at Subaru as Ranmaru's head drooped and mouthed, "I think it's time he went to bed..."



He flinched at the punch, but certainly not because it hurt. Subaru was thinking more on the implications. The suggestion of having a 'crying face' was rather embarrassing, and the topic of him leaving friends alone was sobering, but then he quickly got distracted by the mention of someone named Adrian.

Leave him alone? Interesting. That got a curious look out of Subaru, as it was only natural for him to wonder even more about the boy now. What was his story, and who was Adrian?

But then Ranmaru started to droop, and Subaru had to agree with Lawrence's suggestion. Before Ranmaru could reveal any other unnnecessary secrets about Subaru, the onmyouji had lifted his gloved hand to touch two fingertips to the intoxicated warrior's forehead.

"Sleep," he murmured.



It happened so quickly that Ranmaru wasn't sure it was happening at all, pretty much like the entirety of the evening. A distraction was fun, a distraction that had been necessary enough for him to stop thinking of himself, his own worries, and for the sake of friends he still had, who would worry for him and... so on. After hearing Lawrence's responce, the warrior whispered, "Good... I..." but the sentence was never completed. His eyelids drooped closed and before he knew what was happening, darkness swam over his vision and he slouched forward, the magic doing it's job.

Almost as though he had fallen lifeless, alcohol and exhaustion combined, he swayed, falling to a side against Subaru's body, a breath that almost sounded like the last words of a prayer going past his lips.



Lawr wasn't quite sure just what Subaru was doing when he touched Ranmaru's forehead, but it scared him a little to see the 'warrior' fall asleep at just a single word. He looked from Subaru to Ranmaru, and back, a puzzled frown crossing his face, as he asked, "What just happened..?" People didn't just fall asleep like that, did they? So.. what had just taken place?

A more pressing matter was at hand, though. How to get Ranmaru to his room? Lawr knew that Subaru knew which one it was, and would probably not want any help in carrying him, but he felt obliged to help in some way. It was the least he could do, right? "Do you need help carrying him?"



After glancing up to Lawrence for a moment, Subaru shook his head and slipped his hands underneath Ranmaru to lift him up. "There will always be things you don't understand. This situation is one of them. It's better to keep it that way."

Cradling the boy against his chest, Subaru stood up and looked over to the table where the tea sat. "I'll be back out to clean up, so don't worry about the dishes. You should get to bed. It's late, and you're young."

Bowing his head politely to Lawrence in passing, he began walking down the expansive hallway towards Ranmaru's bedroom.



Tch. Talk about cryptic. And he was going to live here? Well, it couldn't be too bad, right? After all, Ranmaru was there, and Subaru had said that he'd teach him how to make green tea. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad.

Lawr watched as Ranmaru was picked up and carried to his room, looking as if he was light as a feather, and trailed after, curious. He hadn't really gotten a chance to explore earlier, too distracted by Hokuto-chan. What did Ranmaru's room look like? What did Subaru's? He stopped halfway down the hall, though, before wandering back to the living room. If he wanted to snoop, he'd do it when they weren't home.

The boy sat on the couch, looking over at the table, and called out, "Are you sure you don't want me to wash the dishes? I'm not tired, it's fine."



Subaru was quiet and didn't respond to Lawrence right away, instead concentrating on undoing Ranmaru's hair and changing his clothes so that he could sleep more comfortably. With Ranmaru laid out and sleeping soundly, Subaru tugged the blanket up to his chin and stared down at him.

His voice was tinged with regret as he brushed back the younger boy's bangs, and he whispered just under his breath. "I can't make that promise, Ranmaru." Even when he had tried to stay with him upon leaving, they had been separated. Who knew when they would be separated again.

Sighing, the man stood and left the room, lighting a cigarette once the door was shut, and he took a drag while slowly walking down the hall to find Lawrence back on the couch. "...No. It's my mess. I'll clean it up."



Lawr shrugged, pulling his feet up underneath him, and leaned against the armrest again. "Okay, then, suit yourself."

He watched the smoke from Subaru's cigarette trail up towards the ceiling, not really focused on anything. With the drunken Ranmaru put to bed, it was rather quiet, and he didn't quite know how to start up a conversation with Subaru. The young man was interesting, that was a definite fact, but.. how would he react to a stranger asking him just why he distanced himself so much? Probably not well.

"So.. how long have you been here?" he asked, eyes still trained on the cigarette smoke. "In the city, I mean."



After setting the cups back on the tray and carrying everything back into the kitchen, Subaru stubbed the cigarette out into one of the few ashtrays he had brought over about a week prior. He normally tried not to smoke inside Ranmaru's place at all, but sometimes he just couldn't get outside in time.

"For nearly two months this time." The tea was dumped and the cups and pot rinsed out, the water on low so that he didn't have to raise his voice. "And the first time, I was here for about...six months. There was a three month break in between."

Once the tea set had been carefully cleaned and dried, Subaru was quick to pull his gloves back on. Then he looked out of the kitchen towards the balcony, able to see the sun just beginning to rise. Another sleepless night... Well. It was to be expected in this place.

"...May I ask who Adrian is?" It wasn't his business, but curiosity got the best of him.



That was... eight months. How would it feel, Lawr wondered, to have been brought to some utterly bizarre place for a couple of months, then taken back home, only to be transported here again? It seemed.. utterly unbearable. Wasn't Subaru homesick at all? Didn't he miss his family and friends?

But ah, such was a question for another day, wasn't it? He looked up and saw Subaru looking through the glass door to the balcony, and followed his gaze. Sunrise already? It felt like no time at all had passed.

When he heard the question about Adrian, however, it surprised him. Lawr turned to give Subaru a sad smile before his gaze returned to watching the sun rise. "He was.. my lover. And my murderer."



Surprise flickered through his eyes as he looked towards Lawrence. Lover? But he was...so young. Surely he was younger than even Subaru had been when he first met Seishirou. But then...he still seemed a lot more jaded than Subaru had been.

...His murderer. Fallen in love and killed at such a young age. Subaru's heart ached for the boy, but he said nothing. Pity was for the weak, and sympathy suggested he understood. He didn't, and wouldn't. That one response had answered plenty of inquiries already.

Lighting up once more, Subaru stepped to the closet and pulled out his coat, letting the cigarette rest between his lips as he pulled it on. It wasn't even chilly out, but this was habit.

"I'm going out."



It wasn't the fact that Subaru hadn't questioned him further about Adrian that surprised Lawr; rather, it was the lack of response at all. Before, when he'd told people, like Ranmaru or that... Greed man, they'd been curious as to why Adrian had killed him, what had happened. In a way, he appreciated it.

It felt like he wasn't going to be pitied for once. He almost felt like thanking him for it.

Lawr looked up at Subaru as he announced that he was leaving, a bit confused. "You are? Why? You haven't even slept yet.."



Flicking the ashes into an ash tray on the nearby table, Subaru leaned over to pull his boots on with his free hand. Lawrence seemed to be rather forward and...inquisitive, but Subaru supposed it was natural for his age.

Murdered by his lover... The situation seemed far too similar to Kamui's. Maybe that was why Subaru couldn't seem to get irritated in the slightest by him.

"Sleeping in the day won't do anything for me. I'm just going to walk."



Lawr had to fight to stifle the yawn that threatened to escape, placing a hand over his mouth as he nodded. Just a walk. That didn't seem too bad, did it? He thought about getting up and asking to accompany Subaru, but decided against it. He'd just have to find another time to question him, a better way to phrase delicate questions.

And besides, being awake for so long was definitely starting to get to him.

He pillowed his head on his arms, resting against the armrest. "All right, but don't be gone for too long. You'll worry Ranmaru when he wakes up," he said, smiling lightly.



The suggestion that he might worry Ranmaru made him pause. When didn't he worry Ranmaru? The boy was always fretting over him, whether he was out or in.

Subaru doubted he would be back when they woke up, so as he slid the door open, he murmured softly, "He likes to eat oyako donburi for breakfast. I'm sure you can find a recipe on the network. It's simple, and we have the ingredients."

With that, he slid the door shut, stubbed out the cigarette, and grabbed onto the railing before leaping over and dropping out of sight.



Oyako donburi? Lawr had no idea what that was, nor the slightest idea how to make it. He nodded as Subaru slipped outside and stretched out on the couch, scooting back a little so that Hokuto-chan could jump up and curl up next to him.

He'd do that, though, definitely. He'd look up a recipe on the internet and make some for Ranmaru's breakfast. Chances were, he'd wake up before the other did anyway, so he had some time. A nap sounded rather pleasant at the moment, though.

Lawr yawned, laying his head on the armrest and smiling at Hokuto-chan before his eyes slipped closed, and he fell asleep.