The air around them started to become charged with energy, with lightning crackling in the space around the two of them. The silence between them stretched out as both held out ofudas mirroring the others' -- Subaru with his white, Seishirou with his black. Each gazed out and waited for the first move to be made.

Subaru smiled inwardly. *This time, I'm not going to be stupid... I'll wait as long as I have to...*

Seishirou looked at his opponent's set stance, and assessed Subaru's anxiety level. *Do not think the first attack is a disadvantage, Subaru-kun. There are more tricks than you know-*

Seishirou attacked, flinging his talismans toward Subaru in a speed no ordinary mortal could even think to counter. Seishirou's ofudas flew toward him, transforming into black birds of prey that cawed in ravenous hunger at the sight of the enemy. Subaru's hands came up quickly, and countered the black flood of predators with birds of his own that were pure white in color.

Scores of birds on both sides were ripped to shreds, only to be replaced by more. Soon, the air was filled with floating pieces of black and white paper, as well as bloody carcasses that had not yet transformed back into their primary component of paper. Seishirou saw that some of his messengers of death had gotten through, and the small smile on his face got just a little bigger.

Shaking his head, Seishirou sighed. "Subaru-kun, that you are still this weak... What can I say?" The faintly pitying voice made Subaru's counterattack that much stronger and wilder, easily blocked by a simple shield on which all the white birds dashed out their almost-lives on.

As the rather uneven match continued, Seishirou couldn't help but feel just a bit unbalanced. *What is this that I feel? Excitement? No, not that. I know how this will turn out, after all... Something more akin to... sadness? No, that's too strong a word -- a little unhappy, perhaps. After all, this game was so entertaining, But all games must end, and this one is about finished.*

Nokoru's eyes were a bit disturbed as he watched the death-match. Every once in a while, he looked around at the damage the park was sustaining and little sighs would escape. "It's too bad."

Duncan looked at him in askance at this remark, said during a lull in the fight. "What?"

Nokoru gestured to the two. "The fact that Sumeragi is not going to win. It's obvious that he's losing and that's 's going to be a lot of trouble once Sakurazukamori finds out about the Immortals..."

Duncan looked back at the fight, which was a mess of pyrotechnic chaos. "Does he really seem to be losing? Something about the way he's been acting almost makes me think he has something planned... I've seen that kind of expression before." Duncan gazed at the scene, his memories filled with too many memories of stupid mistakes made by people with that kind of wild look on their faces...

"Sumeragi... he may have an ace up his sleeve, but I don't know whether it's going to be enough. I wish Suoh was here -- he's better than I am at assessing battle strategy... or Akira -- he's good at discovering and seeing through subterfuge."

Duncan smiled a little at the forlorn expression on Nokoru's face. "Are they really that important to you?" Duncan was surprised at the fierce answer.

"Of course. They are my closest friends, and my protectors. Without them, I would probably be dead already. It's not easy keeping safe as an Imonoyama, especially if one has no athletic capabilities like I do."

Duncan gave him a curious look. "Are the Imonoyamas all that powerful? I've never heard of you..."

Nokoru smiled. "Good -- we try not to be too well known to the general public. Of course, Tokyo and CLAMP Campus in particular are exceptions, but my family is extremely powerful. It's one of the reasons why I'm able to chase around my pet theories while other people are becoming salarymen." Looking back at the fight, Nokoru sighed. "Though my family may regret letting me have such freedom when they find out what I'm doing..."

Subaru staggered back as he was hit in the arm by the beak of a particularly persistent spirit-bird. On his knees, he pulled power from inside himself for a shield and managed to put one up as more attacks came descending upon him. *Shit- I'm losing too fast. Not yet -- I'm not ready-* He raised his right hand and called for his power, making blades of wind which shredded the birds back to the bits of black paper that they had been originally.

"Seishirou-san." Subaru looked up at Seishirou with a half-grin on his face. "Is that the best you can do? Sakurazukamori, you _are_ just toying with your prey, right? Or should I be disappointed? Can this be all that the Guardian can do to attack?" His tone was challenging, as if bored at the play.

Seishirou looked at the younger man on his knees in front of him, who was still managing to maintain appearences... *Subaru-kun, what happened to you? You're different... it's as if you know something.* Looking at the strange expression on Subaru's face, Seishirou decided not to do the quick kill that he had planned on. Instead, he stood down his powers a little, and gave Subaru time to stand.

Smiling down at the him, Seishirou decided to let the young man try his trick. After all, what fun would it be if there was no challenge? Right now, Subaru was his too easily. He would allow his prey one last, frantic struggle. *Subaru-kun, take your best shot... you'll find that Sakurazukamori is not so easily defeated...*

/Now!/
/Shh- I know... Soon, my partner./

*You will find that the tree will not be so easily sated either... you will keep it fed longer than you know. I feel the potential for the power that could have been, and yet never was within you. Too bad -- it would have been interesting to have an actual challenge, instead of this playing...* Seishirou looked at Subaru, who was still kneeling on his knees, staring up at him with a look in his eyes...

"Seishirou-san. I have to ask one thing -- only one thing... Was there even a chance that I would win the bet?" This was asked in a wistful manner, as the young man let the last few pieces of white paper in his hand float into the wind around him, where it turned into a flock that seemed to be held in reserve.

Seishirou gave him a cold look, utterly the hunter. "What wager is feasible without a little risk? I could have, perhaps. I had no idea when we made the bet, you and I -- I had been young in my power, still rebelling against-"

Seishirou stopped, and then smiled. He reached out a hand toward the tree, and the tree rustled back at him. "Not anymore. I know now that such a thing is impossible, so perhaps you had no chance. That may be the only reason why I let you live this long. Honestly, Subaru-kun. Was that the best you can do? You're already tired, damaged... there is not much entertainment in this..."

Subaru gave a weary nod, as he clambered back to his feet. The nod, weary as it may have been, also hid his face for the moment an almost triumphant look crossed it. "Why don't we find out how much I've been holding back?" Subaru tossed his head back, with a defiant on his face. "Come on-" As the fight continued, Subaru silently hoped that the power he had in reserve was enough...

"Kaichou!" The whisper came from above Nokoru and Duncan. Duncan glanced up, and saw two young men on the branches of two trees that were part of their shelter and cover. "

Suoh? Akira? What are you two doing here?"

Suoh jumped down from his tree, followed by Akira. "Kaichou, there was nothing for us to do but wait at the edge of the park. Did you really expect us to do such a thing when we see the sights and sounds of a fierce battle erupting?"

Akira added, as he came forward toward Nokoru, "It was impossible for us to really stay there- how could we protect you if we were too far away to see you? It was driving Takamura-sempai especially crazy..."

Suoh gave Akira a rather annoyed look, but then smiled and shook his head. "Well, perhaps just a little, Akira. But you weren't in much better shape..."

Suoh's smile faded away as he went next to Nokoru. "Kaichou, what's going on?"

Nokoru, who had been almost rude in ignoring the antics of the other two, said in an intense voice, "Sumeragi seems to be losing his fight." Suoh and Akira were silent as they watched what seemed like a skewed battle between the two men.

Finally, Akira looked away, and saw Duncan standing a few feet away. Akira smiled and bowed at him. "Are you the Immortal Takamura-sempai said was with Kaichou? We have been very rude, haven't we? It's just that we were so concerned about Kaichou- he may be our leader, but he's also prone to getting himself in trouble... and this particular case doesn't have anything to do with a female..."

Duncan gave the young man a strange look. "What does having a woman involved- no, I don't want to know why. I just don't."

Akira grinned a little, and said, "Don't worry about it- ah-" Duncan introduced himself with his usual line, to which Akira replied, "MacLeod-san, I am Ijyuin Akira, and that is Takamura Suoh. We are very glad that you would have protected Kaichou in our absence. Thank you."

Duncan looked at the rather innocent seeming young man, and decided not to say what he would actually done. "Ok... so, is Imonyama very important?"

Akira nodded, and while looking at Nokoru, said, "The Imonoyama family... it is so powerful in assets and people that it's slightly frightening to think of. Certainly, if they weren't so devoted to Japan and the world, I don't know what I'd think of them."

Suoh came over to the two of them. "Ah, MacLeod-san... have you noticed anything strange about Kaichou? Something odd?" Akira gave him a questioning look, to which Suoh said, "He seems... different. I was suspicious when he wanted to come alone -- and when I started to talk to him, he was so intense and far away. Something's going on..."

"Suoh, if you have a question, you could try asking me. I would probably tell you something." Nokoru's voice was tinged with a little laughter as he turned to face the three.

"Ka-kaichou... I mean, it's just that-" Suoh blushed a little, and then smiled back a little ruefully. "It's just that we want to protect you, and right now-"

Akira jumped in, saying in an unusually serious voice, "Right now, Kaichou, we're in a place where we really couldn't protect you, no matter how hard we tried. We are not a match for Sakurazukamori. Please, Kaichou. Why do you have to be here?"

Nokoru looked at his two friends, and then at the curious immortal who was listening into their conversation. Nodding, he motioned for all of them to turn back to assess the fight. "1999. It is a date that has many people thinking of the apocalypse, including some of the most powerful magicians and seers in Japan. The Imonoyama family has the blessing, or curse- whatever you want to call it- to be one of the families with such convictions."

Pointing to the dueling magicians, Nokoru continued. "There are prophecies, signs that point out the unchangeable fate of a select few once a certain decision is made. It is supposed to be unstoppable, once it start, but this fight is something that is not supposed to be happening now. They were fated to finish this in 1999, but... I am realizing why even the prophecies cannot always work."

Looking sadly at the younger onmyouji, Nokoru slowly closed his eyes. "Sometimes fate can be changed, for better or worse. There is too much there between the two of them. Two corpses, truly -- one of his sister, the other of his younger self. Love, hate -- those emotions cannot be controlled. Perhaps the seven will be six, now."

Nokoru opened his eyes and chuckled a little bitterly. "I suppose this should mean something to us, the people who thought that they could control such events as the end of the world. Now, we're as blind as the rest. After all, who knows what's going to happen once these two invalidate the prophecies? Each has a role to play... roles that they will never fulfill."

Nokoru looked up as he felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Suoh gave him a smile, which Akira echoed as he stood behind both of them. "Kaichou -- we will be there for you, no matter what. We never knew about the prophecy in the first place, so it doesn't mean much to us."

Akira nodded, giving Nokoru a solemn look. "Takamura-sempai is right, Kaichou. We will support you in whatever you need, so please don't keep such things from us."

Smiling, Nokoru gave each of his friends a hug before he went back to watching. "Let's see this through- I want to be able to tell his grandmother what happened, at the very least..."