Subaru ☆ Fresh air for clear thoughts.

[marked_as_prey]

Who: Subaru & anyone out walking
Where: Espoir, near Serenity's Manor
Style: Beginning in third, but either is fine.
Status: Open

Comments

[treefeeding]

Of all the people Subaru would have been expecting to run into on his walk, Seishirou Sakurazuka likely would not have been among them. Seishirou's just gotten here, actually--and he's been doing little else besides wander around (smoking all the way) and check his dreamberry, which has actually been very informative, thankfully. The entire reason he'd come out this far, however, making his way out of the city where he'd initially arrived and into this more quaint little town was the fact that he could feel the familiar tug of his own magical signature; it was weak, which was somewhat odd, but he followed it out of curiosity.

Truthfully, of all the people Seishirou had been expecting to run into, Subaru had not been one of them--especially not the Subaru of, to him, nine years ago. But there he was, gloves and all (that would explain the muffled magical signature), walking a small puppy down the street as if nothing had ever happened. Well, for him, Seishirou supposed, nothing had. It was almost disconcerting, this proverbial rewind in their relationship. But nonetheless, Subaru was his, no matter what his age.

"Subaru-kun!" He called out, jogging towards the boy, waving his free hand. He stubbed out his cigarette out of habit--he'd never smoked around Subaru when he was this age--but did not drop it; Subaru-kun would not approve of littering, and neither would Seishirou Sakurazuka, the veterinarian. It was so very easy to slip back into that persona, even after nine years--like settling into a second skin. He would play his old part for now, at least, while he attempted to figure out just what to do. And though this Seishirou would be older than Subaru was used to, and his choice of clothing a little different--less olive and maroon far more black--he was more than recognizable. His sunglasses hid his eyes, for the moment, so there was no need to jump immediately into that conversation.

[marked_as_prey]

Subaru had been lost in his own thoughts as he walked, the puppy at his feet occasionally catching a leaf and jumping back and forth as the two of them walked. He wondered how Hokuto was doing, as well as Seishirou and his grandmother and Yuya-kun as well. However he was pulled out of all of those thought by a familiar voice calling his name. It had been two months since he had heard and it sounded a little different than he remembered, but still it was recognizable and he immediately before to look around for the other man.

Seeing him waving, Subaru smiled brightly. It really was him, it was Seishirou. Cheering Subaru waved back stretching his arm into the air, and started head towards the other while careful not to drag Kou though the puppy didn't seem to mind running along with him. "Seishirou-san, you're here!"

He was a little confused and concerned as to why the other was wearing so much black. Had there been a funeral or something while he was away? There was something else, but the difference in age wouldn't be that decernable until the two were a little closer.

[treefeeding]

When Seishirou was standing before Subaru at last, he gave him his most brilliant, sunny smile. "I am indeed," he agreed with a light chuckle, "and so are you." He placed a hand on the boy's thin shoulder, everything about the gesture friendly and open. "I'm very relieved to see you, Subaru-kun," he admitted. "Here I thought I'd wound up in a strange city all on my own--but at least I have you to comfort me! Is Hokuto-chan here as well?" He made a show of looking this way and that, as if the girl might appear around a nearby corner at any moment. (Which, for all he currently knew of the situation, she might.)

"However," he added, slightly more seriously, "there is one concern. No doubt you've noticed it by now." At close proximity like this, it would have been impossible not to. "You were twenty-five the last time I saw you, Subaru-kun--which for me was quite recently." Just hours, really--it seemed that one moment, he was dying in Subaru's arms, and the next he was here! Not the sort of afterlife he'd been expecting at all.

[marked_as_prey]

"I've actually been here for two months, well just over two months actually since it was about Halloween." Subaru blushed just a little at the hand on his shoulder but nothing that was compared to most of the times when the other made him blush. At the mention of Hokuto though his smile fades a little, "She's not here, I was actually hoping that maybe you would be able to tell if she's alright since i haven't been back."

"T-twenty five!" Subaru flails for a moment, accidently pulling the leash and causing the puppy attached to back. "A-ah sorry Kou."

Squatting down Subaru pets the beagle puppy. "I guess that means then that you must be from the same time as Sorata-san. He said that he knew me too, and someone named Kamui that was similar to a Kamui that I met here. But I'd never seen him before. It's kind of confusing, but maybe Kamui-san or Serenity could explain it to you. Oh but how's Hokuto-chan and do you know Yuya-kun is doing?"

[treefeeding]

Well, now he would have to start thinking on his feet. He'd been considering a plan of action ever since he first spotted Subaru, and while it seemed fairly straightforward in his mind, the addition of 'Sorata'--who he remembered to be one of the Seven Seals--and, most especially, 'Kamui,' complicated matters just a bit. Still, he had every confidence that he would be able to succeed anyway.

...and even if he didn't, what did it matter? He had nothing to lose. He had already played out the year of the bet once, and had no interest in a rematch. If Subaru were to discover his true self prematurely, that was fine. He would simply prefer to have a little time to play around first--slake his own curiosity, as it were.

"Twenty-five," he confirmed with a nod. "Which means that I, of course, am even more of an old man compared to you, Subaru-kun," he lamented, pulling his best pout. But with the subject of Hokuto hanging in the air, it was time to implement his quickly-hatched plan. "Hokuto-chan is doing well," he lied, "though she complains almost daily about the lack of bachelors in Tokyo suitable enough to become her husband." He laughed a little at his own joke, before pressing on, "Yuya-kun's transplant was a success, I remember, though it's been years since I've seen him. However, I can't say that I know of a 'Sorata-san' or a 'Kamui-san.'" His brow furrowed as if he were trying to think. Ultimately, he shook his head, indicating that he had no idea. "I am happy to report, though, that you and I are still very close, Subaru-kun," and it was back to being all smiles.

[marked_as_prey]

"B-but you aren't an old man yet! Even if you are a lot older than I am now." He wonder how Hokuto would have reacted to hear something like that, still that did make the age gap between them considerable larger. He let out a sigh of relief and smiled again at the comment about her trying to find a guy, "Ahh so I guess she hasn't reached her dream of being a house wife yet. And it's good to hear that Yuya-kun's surgery went well, I'm sure that his mother must be relieved at that."

Subaru thought for a moment when the other said that he didn't know Sorata or the Kamui that Sorata had talked about, but maybe it was another case of the alternate world.

"Oh, well the Kamui-san that I live said that some people came from different worlds. In fact he said that his twin was just like me and had the same name." Granted Subaru didn't mention what the other had said about Seishirou, though he doubted he would invite the other over until he had a chance to talk with the vampire about the matter again. "I'm glad that we're still close and that everyone is doing well though. I was beginning to worry since it's been so long. And it's been lonely without Hokuto-chan or Seishriou-san."

[treefeeding]

Given the time difference, Seishirou was more than twice Subaru's age, as a matter of fact--but that was only a passing thought. It didn't matter to him in the least. "At my age I may as well be an old man, especially when compared to you, Subaru-kun, still so young and cute." He gave a rather over-dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "Still, I cannot help my feelings for you. For this old man's sake, I hope you will accept them anyway, Subaru-kun." His fingers around Subaru's shoulder tightened their grip, and he looked so very earnest that it would have been difficult to tell whether he was joking or being serious.

Still, with the shift in subject, so too did Seishirou shift his expressions, fluidly and expertly--as if he really were feeling these things. "Hokuto-chan hasn't quite achieved it yet, but as pretty as your sister is, I am certain she will have more luck soon enough. Ah, Yuya-kun's mother?" He allowed himself to seem slightly uncomfortable with that subject. "...Yes. She must have been." Hurriedly, he switched the topic, making it convincingly seem like it wasn't something he wished to discuss. "Different worlds? I suppose that is very possible. Perhaps they aren't from our world at all--or we aren't from theirs. But I am sorry you've been lonely." His brows knit together in concern, visible above his dark sunglasses. "But there is no need for that any longer. You won't be lonely again now that I am here. I promise, Subaru-kun."

[marked_as_prey]

Subaru's blush returned, turning his face red as he tried to hide under his hat, "S-seishirou-san! You should say things like that, someone might take you seriously." Still there was some form of comfort in him saying that as well, otherwise he wouldn't have blushed so much. At how quickly Seishirou brushed off the subject of Yuya's mother though Subaru wondered if something had happened, though he didn't say anything at the moment since things were complicated enough at the moment.

"They seemed to know a lot about me though and about the Sumeragi, but if you don't know them and we're still close maybe it is a different one."

"Thank you Seishirou-san, I'm happy to see you and welcome to Somarium. I could show you around if you want, and maybe show you the different cottages you could stay in. Or there are apartments in the city if you'd prefer."

[treefeeding]

"But Subaru-kun, I am serious," he asserted. "I've loved you since I first met you." He gave a long-suffering sigh. "I'd nearly forgotten that you weren't comfortable with my feelings for you at this age. I apologize." He released Subaru's shoulder at last, returning his hand to his side.

"Subaru-kun is offering to give me a tour?" This prospect excited him all over again. "I would love nothing more. Any excuse to spend a little time with you," he added with a chuckle. "Though I think I would prefer a place in the city; having grown up in Tokyo, I am not well-suited to small towns. The lack of noise makes me a little uncomfortable. Perhaps you and I could make plans to visit the city together at some point soon?" He suggested.

[marked_as_prey]

Suddenly it didn't feel cold at all anymore as Subaru's face went red and he tried hiding under his hat. He knew that it should be embarrassing and he should object to it according to what most people thought. . . right? But if Seishirou had said they remained as close and from the way he talked it wasn't had something changed. Luckily the boy is saved from his spiraling thoughts by the prospect of the tour.

"W-well it's not as big as Tokyo, but we could walk around the city. I just like staying here because it's close to where I've been staying."

[treefeeding]

"I would love to see the city with you, Subaru-kun." This reply was softer, though no less enthusiastic, and accompanied by a kind smile to match it. "How about we go the day after tomorrow? If they apartments are nice enough, I would love to move in as soon as I can." Seishirou's lips quirked up just a little more as he added, "And perhaps even convince you to stay as well. Though that is entirely your choice, of course."

It was then that Seishirou blinked, and glanced downward. "Oh!" He exclaimed. "But it seems that I've been so distracted by how happy your company made me, Subaru-kun, that I have failed to acknowledge your friend here, who is nearly as adorable as you are." He immediately sunk into a crouch, reaching a hand out towards the puppy to pet him gently on the head, scratching behind his ears. "What this handsome little gentleman called?"

[marked_as_prey]

"That would be fine, though it would need to be after classes since they're just starting back the day before." He was rather excited to go back to class and Serenity had certainly made him feel welcome at her academy and showing him around to the different classes he would take. He managed to miss the part about moving in though he did look down and smile when the puppy went forward and licked Seishrirou's hand as the other went to pet him.

"Ahh, that's Kou. Kamui-san and Serenity gave him to me for the holiday Christmas. He has a lot of energy and seems really happy though."

[treefeeding]

"He certainly seems energetic," Seishirou agreed, grinning when the small dog began to lap at his fingers. "And in very good health, too, from what I can see." And then, addressing the puppy himself, "It is very nice to meet you, Kou-chan. I'm sure you've been taking very good care of Subaru-kun, haven't you?" With a light laugh, he gave Kou a firmer pat down his back before standing up again, facing Subaru directly.

"Any time it's convenient for you," he assured. "We'll stay in touch, and plan accordingly. For now, though, I should let you get back to your quality time with Kou-chan, here. I'm sorry for keeping you so long with my ramblings!" He took a step backwards, putting a little distance between them. "I'll see you very soon, Subaru-kun. I'm looking forward to it."

And with that, and a light pat to the boy's shoulder, Seishirou made his way past, continuing on down the street.