Disclaimer: All X and Tokyo Babylon characters set
within this story are the property of CLAMP. We do not
have any claims on them, much as though we might like.


WARNING: This is shonen ai... rated PG-13.  The
eventual NC-17 parts will be separated from the rest
of the fic and sent to the appropriate lists, and
other lists will receive notification about where they
can be found.  

Summary: What if Subaru never bumped into Seishirou at
that train station one fine day in 1990 and never had
his heart broken? How would the two of them resolve
their bet when they meet in 1999 and would fate be
content to allow it? This is our AU story.

PROLOGUE
There is such a thing as fate. Fate weaves people
under its spell, and struggle though they might,
humans are doomed to follow the course laid for them. 

Sometimes, though, small decisions change the course
of a person's life. On a certain day after Sumeragi
Subaru had just moved to Tokyo, he decided to take a
cab, rather than a subway. This prevented him from
meeting the kind veterinarian Sakurazuka Seishirou,
and the whole tower of cards known as destiny wobbled
under the repercussions. Subaru had been marked as a
child, and according to destiny, he and Seishirou
should have entered the Final Day as the bitterest of
enemies, due to a bet that Subaru couldn't win. But...
they didn't meet to act out that course of fate.

This simply would not do. The heavens had plans for
the two opposing stars. Their meeting was
inevitable... but because of fortune's misstep, would
take nine years for that to happen- in the year 1999,
just before a young man named Shiro Kamui came to the
city, to seek his own destiny....

The Writing Team of AXQA presents:
Paradigm Shift
~~~~~

CHAPTER ONE

Sometime in October 1998, in the district of
Shinjuku...

The sound of heavy panting was loud as a young man ran
full tilt along the side of the road. Sparing only a
quick glance at the traffic, he made a sudden dash
across, narrowly avoiding a braking car. If anyone was
looking carefully at him, they'd have thought he was
flying, so swiftly did his feet move that they
appeared to be lifting straight off the ground. But
that would have been impossible. 

Perhaps not. For Sumeragi Subaru, 13th clan head of
the Sumeragis, very little was impossible. At that
moment, in a situation of life or death, he was not
going to give up without exerting every one of his
formidable abilities needed to save a life. 

There! 

A quick glance showed him that he had arrived at his
destination. Quickly he barreled through the glass
doors, startling the receptionist just inside the
room.

"Please, I need help!" Subaru exclaimed, holding
tightly to the bundle in his arms.

The woman had to be given credit for quick thinking
because she only took a moment to assess the
situation. "Follow me," she commanded as she led him
through a paneled door. 

A tall man dressed in a white lab coat swiveled around
to look at Subaru as he all but ran into the room.

Subaru lifted his emerald green eyes to meet a pair of
kind amber ones, set behind a pair of glasses.
"Please, please, you have to help him," Subaru pleaded
as he thrust the little bloody bundle in his arms at
the doctor.

A small smile lifted the doctor's lips, comforting the
younger man. The vet took the burden from the
petitioner, settling it carefully on an operating
table. "Don't worry," he said, patting Subaru's hand
reassuringly.

The touch sent a pleasant shiver up Subaru's spine. He
blushed but didn't know why he was reacting like this.

"Will you be needing me, sensei?" the receptionist
asked.

"Eh? No, I think I shall be all right. But would you
like to stay and help?" he asked, addressing the
question to Subaru.

Subaru nodded gratefully. "Yes."

As the veterinarian carefully examined the injured
puppy, Subaru stole shy glances at him. His first
impression of the man had been of startled
recognition. It was as if he knew him from somewhere
before. Subaru's gaze lingered over the gentle way he
stroked the puppy lying whimpering in pain on the
table and wondered how the touch felt.

He blushed slightly, knowing his sister would
mercilessly tease him if she ever knew what he'd been
thinking. Luckily for him, out of all the powers the
Sumeragi twins possessed the telepathy that twins were
famed for was not among their skills. "Thank you for
helping on such short notice, sensei," he said, bowing
slightly. "I'm sure you were ready to go home."

The doctor smiled at him. "It's fine... I'd never turn
any creature in need away," he said, and something
about the way his eyes focused on Subaru, instead of
the puppy, made the innuendo clear.

Subaru felt his infamous blush crawl up his cheeks,
and fought to suppress it. "Still, I appreciate it,"
he said, dropping his eyes to the puppy. "I- I'm
sorry.... I never introduced myself. Sumeragi Subaru
desu," he said, bowing slightly, even as the vet dealt
expertly with the puppy's cuts.

"Sakurazuka Seishirou," the vet said, smiling. Subaru
stiffened slightly, but the vet only laughed. "I see
that the Sumeragi recognizes my family name," he said
easily. "Can you hand me that gauze over there?" he
asked, nodding his head towards the other table.

Subaru backed up slowly, not daring to take his eyes
off the other man. He fumbled around without looking
for the gauze, and accidentally nicked his left wrist,
on the skin just above his glove, with a scalpel.
"Ow!" he yelped in pain, but his eyes remained
focused. Pain was something he'd learned to ignore in
his years as the Sumeragi Clan's foremost onmyouji.

Subaru's hand was suddenly taken and held within
Seishirou's. "Here, let me take a look at that. It
wouldn't do for that to get infected," the
veterinarian said. The antiseptic that he dabbed over
the cut was cool and stung a little. "Are you all
right?" he asked in response to the little intake of
breath that Subaru made.

"Oh, I'm... I'm fine," Subaru stammered, confused over
the intimate way Seishirou was holding onto him. 

The older man nodded and turned back to the puppy. It
wasn't really very seriously injured; its leg had been
broken and needed to be set. There were also little
cuts and bruises all over it. "What happened to him?"
the vet asked.

"I found some boys hurting him and took him away from
them. I just don't know how some children can be so
cruel..." Subaru's voice trailed off in distress.

"People are cruel, sometimes... but there are also the
kind ones... there's balance in the world. Isn't that
the philosophy of your art?" the vet asked.

"But... to see such cruelty in children," Subaru
whispered softly. He looked at the dog wistfully, and
saw that it seemed to be relaxing under the vet's
gentle ministrations.

The older man turned around, and before Subaru could
react, he was next to him. Subaru felt Seishirou's
presence in every pore of his being, and wondered why
they seemed to be so attuned to each other. It felt...
like meeting the other half of himself. "I don't have
to guess hard which kind of person you are,
Subaru-san," Seishirou said, raising a hand to cup his
chin. "When I finish here, would you join me for
dinner?"

Subaru's eyes were wide. "No... no... I shouldn't
disturb you any more. I'm sure you must be busy..." He
protested, though something inside him desperately
wanted to accept.

"Ah, I do so hate eating alone. But if you simply
cannot bear to be in my company..." Seishirou turned
sad eyes on Subaru.

"Oh, no, that's not it at all. I like being in your
company," Subaru said, then clapped a hand over his
mouth as he realized what he had just been maneuvered
into saying.

Seishirou perked up visibly at that. "Oh, good, then
you'll come with me. I know just the place. I think
you must be hungry, too!" Seishirou cocked his head in
the direction of Subaru's middle, as his stomach gave
a small growl in reminder that he had not had anything
to eat today.

"Um..." Subaru said, and his blush returned
full-force. "Just let me call my sister and let her
know I won't be around, in case she comes looking for
me."

Seishirou looked at him. "You have a sister?" he asked
curiously, as he started to straighten the room. 

"My twin. We lived together until we were eighteen,
but she finally moved out," Subaru said, mentally
adding, 'and it saved my sanity.' Even though his
clothing was still designed by her, he'd managed to
tone down his wardrobe... a little; a very little. He
still stood out like a sore thumb in traditional
Tokyo.

Today he had selected one of Hokuto's seasonal
outfits, which was designed around Halloween. While
the holiday made him uneasy (and the spirits even MORE
uneasy) Hokuto always had a blast with it, since it
gave her an excuse to get outright bizarre.

Subaru was dressed primarily in black velvet, which
wouldn't have been so bad if she hadn't accented it
with neon orange satin. Still, it was better than SOME
of what Hokuto had delivered in her last shipment, so
he'd decided on it; sometimes he thought she
deliberately left him clothes she knew he wasn't going
to wear to make him wear the ones she wanted him to.
His pants were low hip huggers and fitted to his
waist, flaring out into wide velvety legs that hung to
the floor, so long that he would have tripped on them
if he hadn't had experience with wilder clothes. His
shirt was made of two layers of black: a thin lace
that mimicked cobwebs and a fitted vest that started
at his ribcage. On his head he wore his black hat...
and had that been all, it would have been fine... but
then Hokuto had added the orange.

The orange hatband was fine, and the orange belt was
acceptable as well. He supposed he could even tolerate
the orange cross-shaped choker that drew attention to
his pale throat... but the long, draping orange cloth
she had attached to each of his shoulders, and again
at his wrists made him feel decidedly uneasily.
Whenever Subaru shifted an arm, he had a yard of
fabric trailing it. It drew way more attention than he
was comfortable with- like most of his sister's
creations.

"Erm, Sakurazuka-san, can I come back to visit the
dog?" Subaru asked politely. 

"Please call me Seishirou. Of course you may come
back. You can come visit me anytime, Subaru-kun," the
older man said. 

Subaru rather liked being addressed in that familiar
way, though he was a little embarrassed by it. He was
after all a grown man. 

"You really like animals that much?" Seishirou was
asking him as he finished cleaning up after the
surgery.

"Oh, yes. I love animals," Subaru gushed in
enthusiasm. "I wanted to be an animal doctor too at
one time. I even went to university to study biology
and zoology, but..." Subaru paused at the reminder of
the sacrifice that his duty had required of him.

"But?" Seishirou prompted.

"Well, I have this rather full time job. I'm an
onmyouji," Subaru confessed.

"Yes, I know. You're rather famous, you know."
Seishirou replied.

"I... I am?" Subaru stuttered in confusion. "You're a
Sakurazuka..."

"Yes, I am. But I'm also only a lowly veterinarian.
Does that bother you?" 

"No!" Subaru said fiercely without thinking. " I
mean... well, my grandmother would probably have a fit
if she knew I was talking to a Sakurazuka...."

Seishirou smiled gently and picked up the puppy. "I
have a small interest in family history. I can't
honestly blame her," he admitted. "But you can't judge
us all for the action of our ancestors..."

"Or relatives..." Subaru whispered, seeming sorrowful
as his eyes dropped to his gloved hands for an
instant. 

"Huh? Did you say something?"

"No-no!"

"Well, I'm going to put this fellow to bed..."
Seishirou said. "Would you like to come?" he offered.

Subaru nodded enthusiastically. He followed Seishirou
to the back room. He couldn't resist cooing a little
at the adorable cats and dogs looking back at him in
their cages. Suddenly a hand was around his waist.

"Are you ready to leave Subaru-kun?" Seishirou was
smiling an indulgent smile at him. "You can come back
and visit and play with these animals anytime you like
you know."

The promise of the treat was enough to make Subaru
forget his close proximity to the other man. He
couldn't resist smiling delightedly back at him.

"I'd love that! Sometimes I wish I could keep a pet...
but I'm seldom home long enough to take good care of
it, and I don't think it'd be fair..."

Seishirou smiled. "Many people would take a pet
anyway, and let the animal be lonely."

Subaru stuck his finger into the cage of a
particularly active kitten. "How could I?" he asked
softly. "I'd know how sad they were whenever I was
around them, and I'd never know any joy from being
close..."

"That's an excellent attitude to have! All pet owners
need to be responsible," Seishirou said cheerfully.

As Subaru walked alongside Seishirou, he contemplated
the man. Subaru couldn't get over how kind and gentle
veterinarian was. He couldn't believe he could be
linked to the Sakurazuka clan. But then he remembered
his grandmother had said that not everyone named
Sakurazuka was involved in the Sakurazukamori group of
assassins. In fact, the Sakurazukamori was only one
man, though he was the mortal enemy to the Sumeragis.

No, Seishirou-san was simply unfortunate in being a
born a Sakurazuka and he, Subaru, would not shun him
simply for it. 

After being seated at the small cafe Seishirou brought
him to for their meal, Subaru looked around,
remembering he was supposed to call his sister. He
excused himself and went to the pay phone by the side
of the wall after asking Seishirou to order something
for him. 

"WHERE ARE YOU?" The particularly strident tones of
Hokuto-chan filled his ear.

Subaru held the receiver a little away before speaking
into it. "Maa maa, Hokuto-chan, please lower your
voice. I'm... I'm having dinner out today."

The slight stutter alerted Hokuto to Subaru's effort
to hide something from her. "Is there someone with
you?" She demanded perceptively.

Subaru sighed. His sister knew him all too well. "Yes,
Hokuto-chan. But don't ask me to tell you on the
phone. I'll tell you all about him when I get back, I
promise."

"HIM???" 

Subaru could see the wheels turning around Hokuto's
head. "It's just a friend."

"I see, you have to bring him around to your apartment
after dinner. I want to meet him. I'll be waiting for
you there Subaru. PROMISE?" 

Subaru found himself bowing in agreement, just like he
always did when talking to someone on the phone,
despite knowing full well the other side could not
possibly see him. "Hai, hai, I promise." 

Hanging up, he turned back to see Seishirou staring at
him with an amused smile on his face. A blush flooded
his cheeks again. Subaru wondered if this hot and
flustered feeling whenever he saw Seishirou looking at
him was going to be a familiar sensation in his
future.

That was, assuming Seishirou would keep seeing him.
Subaru was drawn to him... but most people, while
fascinated by the onmyouji's art, were unable to stay
in their orbit.

They moved through a different world than normal
people, and dealt with situations that were downright
dangerous. And with 1999 approaching... 

Subaru shook his head mentally, forcing his
grandmother's warnings to the back of his mind. He had
to live, because that was what he stood for. He stood
for life. "Sorry about that, Seishirou-san," he said
when he returned to their table. "My sister..." he
said, and rolled his eyes slightly.

"She sounds quite interesting. Does she look anything
like you?"

Subaru blushed. "Even though we're fraternal twins,
when we were younger, people couldn't tell us apart.
That is... until... well, until it became clear who
was the boy and she became a woman. Still, many people
say it's looking at male and female versions of the
same person."

Seishirou smiled slightly, and took Subaru's hand in
his own. "Then she must be one of the most beautiful
women in Tokyo."

Subaru didn't quite know how to take that comment. On
the one hand it would seem awfully rude not to agree,
since he did think Hokuto was very special. But on the
other hand, he knew Seishirou wasn't really
complimenting his sister. He was old enough to know
better though he wasn't old enough to know how to deal
with someone hitting on him. So he did the only thing
he always did: blush beetroot red.

"Ah.. ah... I suppose..." he stammered. 

Seishirou laughed lightly. "I think I should like to
meet her, since I see she's very special to you."

Subaru nodded. "She'll be at my apartment... she
expressed a rather strong desire in meeting you..."

Seishirou's eyes seemed to sparkle with amusement.
"She gave you your marching orders? Aren't you the
Head of your Clan?"

Subaru gave a mock shudder. "When it comes to magic,
yes. When it comes to my own life... well, I have my
grandmother and Hokuto and whatever other female
relative chooses to poke her nose in..."

The rest of the meal passed with incredible speed for
Subaru. Seishirou kept him entertained with tales of
the antics at his animal clinic. He couldn't remember
a time when he had enjoyed himself more. It was nice
to think about mundane things rather than worrying
about his magic or work.

After the meal, Subaru found himself leading the way
back to his apartment. "Here it is," he said. Before
he could say anything further, his front door was
flung open.

"Su-Ba-Ru!" A loud voice declared as a very pretty
young woman practically hurtled out.

Subaru caught the missile that resolved itself into
his sister with the ease born of years of practice.
She smiled up at him mischievously, though, and his
stomach felt like it had gained a lump of lead. Hokuto
was Up To Something.

"Hello!" she said, turning around to get a look at the
visitor for a second. Her eyes scanned Seishirou from
the feet to his head, and her grin widened. Before
either man could stop her, she threw herself into his
arms and planted a kiss firmly on his lips. "I'm
Sumeragi Hokuto- call me Hokuto-chan!"

"Ho-Hokuto!" Subaru stammered, staring at his sister
as he got a good look at her outfit.

She was dressed as Cupid. She wore knee-high white
boots, a mini-skirt and halter top with tiny wings
attached to the back; the entire thing was way too
cool for the season, but she didn't seemed bothered.
She had accessorized with gold-heart jewelry and a
belt made of heart-links... but the kicker was the
small golden bow and arrows she had strapped to her
right hip.

After seeing her kiss the man he had just spent one of
the best dinners of his life with, combined with her
clothing choice, Subaru wished that he could banish
her to the South Pole. But something inside Subaru was
relieved when he saw that Seishirou didn't appear to
be particularly affected by Hokuto's kiss. 

"Ah, dear lady, I don't think we've been properly
introduced. I am Sakurazuka Seishirou, a humble
veterinarian," Seishirou said with an amused and
indulgent smile.

A quick narrowing of her eyes was all the reaction
that Hokuto made at hearing the name. She tilted her
head at Subaru for a quick look at him before smiling
broadly, "So you're the first person who's managed to
get my brother to go on a dinner date with!"

Subaru flushed with embarrassment at her candor.
"Hokuto-chan!" he exclaimed. Then remembering his
manners he said, "Seishirou-san, would you like to
come inside?"

"It would be my pleasure, Subaru-kun."

And that was the beginning of the battle for the fate
of the world, even though Sumeragi Subaru wouldn't
know it for many months.

*

Sakurazuka Seishirou didn't manage to get away from
the twins until around one a.m., but that was more
then acceptable. His prey, after over a decade and a
half, had walked right into his office. Just the other
day he had been thinking he'd been falling into the
most dreadful routine, and had been racking his brain
to come up with a diversion.

He remembered the bet he had laid with the young
child, of course, but it had always been something to
do later. He hadn't realized when he made it that he
and the Sumeragi were both destined to fight for the
end of the world. Destiny had a strange way of
diverting things to its whims, and he had made the
decision years ago to let the bet lie, and merely take
the Sumeragi on as his opposite, come the Final Day.

After all, they were already opposing clans; it was
quite natural that they be rivals.

But this... was just too perfect. Subaru had walked
right into his hands, and he was already infatuated
with him. It was a delicious thought he could date
Subaru, bed him... and then betray him, all in time
for the End of the World. Watching the pale face and
sweet smile crushed by betrayal... would be another
form of victory, and perhaps a more enjoyable one. He
rarely got to play with his kills, and few of them
were as fascinating as Subaru.

How could anyone be twenty-four years old and be so
blasted innocent? Seishirou wanted to know. The
Sumeragi was the head of his clan, but he still
stuttered and blushed like a shy schoolboy. If it
wasn't for the almost visible aura of power and the
underlying sorrow that flashed occasionally in
Subaru's fascinating green eyes, Seishirou would have
just killed him outright. Still, the contradictions
Subaru had interested Seishirou, and he decided that
playing by the terms of the bet wasn't going to be a
bad idea.

~~~~~

Notes: All of Subaru's and Hokuto clothes were
designed by Aishuu who turned out to have a rather
fiendish imagination as far as Xandra is concerned.
But since Xandra turned up an absolute blank on how to
dress the twins, she's not complaining.

Aishuu: I can't help it if I think the best thing
Hokuto ever did was dress up her brother! But I was
going for a subtly sexy look on Subaru, who, at 24, is
just as clueless as he was at 16.... Since he never
met Seishirou.

Up Next: Tokyo Babylon springs into full play, with
Seishirou and Subaru meeting for lunch, and Subaru
going ghost-hunting...


=====
Sing what you can't say
Forget what you can't play
Hasten to drown into beautiful eyes
Walk within my poetry, this dying music...
My loveletter to nobody
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Quicksilver/
http://www.midnightrevolution.org/quicksilver/

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