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The Night Before
by Lianne Burwell
September 1998
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Night was falling over Tokyo. From his bed, Kakyou could see the last 
rays of light, fading with the sun already below the horizon. It was 
possibly the *last* night that humanity would ever know. He wondered what 
the people of the city would think if they knew that their city would be 
the site of a battle, the next day. A battle that would determine the 
fate of the world. They were already reeling from the aftermath of the 
series of earthquakes that had struck the city as each of the protective 
seals was broken.

There was a whisper of sound, and Kakyou turned his head to face the 
doorway. Leaning against the doorframe was Seishirou. For once, the 
assassin had discarded his usual trench-coat, but was still dressed in 
his suit and tie.

"Yes, Seishirou?"

The man didn't move. He just stared at Kakyou, the one glass eye gleaming 
in the faint light. Finally he spoke.

"I want you to do something."

Kakyou smiled, ever so faintly. The assassin never asked, he told. "What?"

"A dream."

Kakyou's eyes widened at that. "Not what I would have expected from you. 
Someplace you want to go? Someone's image you want to create?"

"No. I want you to create a dream, and draw a second person into it. 
Subaru."

Kakyou nodded. He knew about the history between the two dragons, each on 
different sides of the next day's battle. He had seen it in his dreams.

"Very well."

Kakyou closed his eyes, and slipped into the dream realm.

* * * * *

Subaru stubbed out his cigarette. It was getting late, and he should be 
asleep. Tomorrow was all too close, and everyone else had already retired 
for the night.

He took a deep breath of the night-air, and yawned. Yes, he really should 
try to get some sleep. He turned, and went inside. Sleep was slow coming, 
but it did come eventually.

* * * * *

Subaru turned slowly, staring at his surroundings. It was the observation 
deck of Tokyo Tower, a site very familiar to him. Through the windows, he 
could see the lights of Tokyo, gleaming in the night.

"Hello, Subaru-kun."

He whirled at the familiar, sardonic voice. Immediately, Subaru raised 
his hands and chanted a quick attack spell. It flew through the air, 
shaped like a white bird, speeding towards the other man.

Seishirou blew a puff of air, and the bird disappeared, like a soap 
bubble that burst.

"Was that really necessary?" came the quiet rebuke.

"Yes," Subaru snarled, preparing the next spell. He raised his hands 
again, but suddenly Seishirou was standing directly in front of him, 
holding his wrists.

"Shhh, Subaru-kun. There is no point to this. After all, you're just 
dreaming."

Subaru stopped, and considered that. He quickly realized that this *was* 
a dream, so the man in front of him was *not* Seishirou.

He relaxed fractionally, and the grip on his wrists loosened. The dream 
Seishirou smiled, and his thumb started to gently stroke at the inside of 
Subaru's wrist. Subaru felt goosebumps rise at the slight friction, and a 
shiver went up his spine.

"Tell me, Subaru," the dream construct said in a soft voice. "If this is 
a dream, then is there something that you want from me? Something you 
could never ask in the real world?"

"Other than your death?" he said in a harsh voice, trying to ignore the 
soft touch on his wrist.

"Other than that." A gentle tug was pulling him closer, despite his 
attempts to resist. One hand released a wrist, and came around his waist. 
"What do you really want, Subaru-kun? Tell me..."

Subaru's lips tried to twist into a sneer. Now if he could only decide if 
he was sneering at the dream-Seishirou, or himself.

"Don't play games with me," he finally said. Seishirou smiled.

"No games, Subaru-kun," he said, then kissed him.

Subaru fought back, struggling against the firm grip, but it was no use. 
This dream-Seishirou was very strong. Besides, he wasn't really sure that 
he *wanted* to fight. It had been so long since Seishirou had kissed him. 
Held him. He hated the assassin with every fiber of his being, but his 
body still wanted the man. Wanted what he could never have.

Except in a dream. Subaru realized that maybe he could let go for once. A 
dream. He'd not had a wet dream in years, but that was what this was. 
So...

Subaru relaxed into the assassin's embrace, and began to return the kiss.

* * * * *

Kakyou stood in the shadows, watching the drama play out. He could not 
spin the dream for Seishirou without being present. He did not know if 
Seishirou realized this, but it did not matter.

Then he noticed that he was not the only watcher. Narrowing his eyes, he 
could see Hinoto and Kanoe, the sisters who had assembled the Dragons of 
Earth and Heaven. Hinoto's child-like face was worried as she watched, 
ready to defend her Dragon, Subaru. Kanoe just smiled, and licked her 
lips at the scene playing out before them.

Satisfied that they would not interfere. Kakyou turned his attention back 
to the two men who were making love, oblivious to their audience.

* * * * *

Seishirou smiled, as he felt resistance fade and Subaru begin to kiss him 
back. The kiss was inexperienced, but a far cry from the innocent kiss of 
the sixteen year old that Subaru had once been. Seishirou plunged his 
tongue past white teeth, and felt, more than heard, the resulting moan.

Seishirou pulled away, admiring the dazed look on the flushed face in 
front of him. Slowly, deliberately, he began to discard his clothing, 
never losing eye-contact with the young man. Subaru swayed, a barely 
perceptible motion, but did not move otherwise.

Subaru was almost shaking when Seishirou reached out and started removing 
his clothing. Each item was removed, and dropped to the ground, until he 
stood before Seishirou, equally naked, and half-aroused.

"Beautiful," Seishirou said, with a quirked smile. He reached out to 
stroke Subaru's cheek, and the young man flinched, slightly, and refused 
to meet his eyes. Seishirou wasn't about to accept that, so he gripped 
Subaru's chin, and pulled him in for another kiss.

This time, the resistance disappeared even more swiftly than before. 
Evidently, Subaru had fallen for the argument that this was just a dream, 
so there wasn't any point in not giving in to what he so obviously wanted 
to do.

The kiss grew progressively deeper, until Subaru was almost hanging from 
his arms. Then he pulled away.

"Seishirou-san..." he said, a tone of almost awe in his voice. Seishirou 
smiled, a predatory expression, and gently pushed Subaru down to the 
ground. Then he covered the slighter frame with his own.

Subaru arched up, underneath him, no longer in control of his reactions. 
Seishirou felt a surge of triumph, as he realized that Subaru was still a 
virgin. Subaru was *his*. Always had been. Always would be. He lowered 
his head to fasten lips on the young man's neck, and started a steady 
suction.

When he lifted his head, Subaru's eyes were tightly shut, and his breath 
was coming in short pants. The red mark stood out on his neck quite 
nicely. Seishirou dropped his head for another kiss, and was met with an 
eager response.

There wasn't much time. Dawn would come all too soon. He pulled back long 
enough to gather up Subaru's legs, pressing them up towards their owner's 
chest. Subaru's eyes came open, sudden fear on his face. Seishirou didn't 
bother to reassure him, though he knew there would be no pain. After all, 
this *was* just a dream.

Instead, he pushed forward, sheathing himself in the young man's body. 
Subaru gasped, and thrust back against him. Seishirou withdrew, the 
pressed in again, faster this time.

Again and again he thrust, the tempo ever increasing, until Subaru was 
twisting beneath him, crying out at the pain/pleasure of his taking. 
Seishirou felt himself drawing close, and reached down to grasp Subaru in 
his hand, and pumped once, twice, three times, until Subaru was spilling 
into his hand. 

The clenching around his own flesh was the last stimulus that he needed, 
and he collapsed on top of Subaru. Seishirou withdrew, and stretched out 
next to the young man. He raised a hand to wipe the tears from Subaru's 
face.

"Sleep," he said, brushing his hand over the young man's eyes. "Tomorrow 
is almost here."

"Then it will be over," Subaru said in a quiet voice, already fading into 
sleep.

"Then it will be over," He agreed, and watched as his other half's form 
grew translucent, then disappeared.

* * * * *

When Subaru woke, the beginnings of the false dawn were on the horizon. 
He stumbled to his feet, and into the bathroom, trying not to think of 
the dream he'd had.

In the bathroom he splashed water from the tap on his face, then looked 
at his reflection in the mirror. And froze.

One hand came up to touch the red mark on his neck. The one that 
Seishirou had given him.

But it had just been a dream.

Hadn't it?

* * * * *

When Seishirou opened his eyes, dawn was just starting to stain the 
horizon. He got to his feet, and nodded Kakyou before leaving the room.

The last day was beginning.

THE END