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Chapter 1
Fandom: xxxHolic
Pairing: Watanuki x Doumeki
Rating: PG-13
Notes: I do not claim these characters, they belong to CLAMP! Here is Chapter 1, it also takes place during Volume 1... This one is kinda short too...

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He turned the key and opened the door to his apartment, rolling his aching shoulders in circles. After working at Yuuko's for much longer than he had wanted to be there, all he wanted was a warm shower and go to sleep.

He sighed, and was in a slump as he closed the door behind him and took off his shoes and the jacket of his uniform. He placed the bags he was carrying on the floor. He was stripping on the way to the bathroom, and was down to just his boxers when he heard a voice behind him.

"Yo."

He didn't know how far he jumped, but he turned around faster than the voice registering in his brain, his eyes wide as a rabbit staring into the barrel of a gun.

"Shizuka! Don't scare me like that!"

"You're late."

"I... I'm sorry... I... I got a job."

"Hn."

"Are you mad at me?"

"You didn't tell me you were looking for a job."

He was beside Doumeki now, clinging to the archer's arm, "I'm sorry. I wasn't... but she... insisted."

"She?"

"Shizuka! I'm not interested! Yuuko-san is much too old for me!"

"Hn."

"Shizuka, please don't be mad at me!"

"I'm not," he said, kissing Watankuki's forehead, "but you owe me."

Watanuki shook his head, "I'm too tired for that tonight. And I'm sore..."

"Tomorrow then?"

"Alright. Will you still stay with me tonight?"

Watanuki was staring at the ground now. Doumeki wrapped his left arm around Watanuki's slim waist, and reached to cradle Watanuki's chin with his other hand, tilting it up to look at him.

"Of course," he said, causing Watanuki to blush, and then Doumeki brought his lips to those of his lover.

Watanuki pulled away first, telling Doumeki he needed a shower, ad then he was going to go to bed. Doumeki nodded, kissing the bespectacled boy once more.

"Did you eat something?"

Doumeki nodded, "I went home for a bit."

"Oh, well I guess we will have that tomorrow then," he said, pointing at one of the bags he had dropped on the floor earlier.

"Would you put that away while I am in the shower?"

Doumeki nodded as Watanuki disappeared into the bathroom.

Chapter 3
Fandom: xxxHolic
Pairing: Watanuki x Doumeki
Rating: PG-13
Notes: I do not claim these characters, they belong to CLAMP! Finally on to Chapter 3. This takes place during Volume 3. I have skipped telling about the ghost stories and the Monkey's Paw. The Ghost Story scene is done a lot, and I didn't find the Monkey's Paw too be significant enough to write about... So yeah.. Here is Chapter 3, enjoy!

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“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” replied a comforter and pillow.

Doumeki sat back down on the futon, and pulled down the comforter to reveal the back of Watanuki’s head. The boy groaned and tried to pull the covers back over him.

“Don’t look at me, Shizuka! I’m going to die!”

“You aren’t going to die.”

“Yes I am! It still hurts, I still feel it!” Why do you have to be so rough sometimes?”

“I’m sorry.”

“You better be!” Watanuki yelled, pulling a pillow over his head.

There were a few minutes of silence before Doumeki finally asked, “So you see these things everyday?”

There was a movement under the covers that could only mean Watanuki was nodding.

“How did you deal with them before we found out that I could exorcise them last night?”

“I ran,” came Watanuki’s muffled voice.

“You won’t have to run anymore.”

Watanuki pushed off the covers, revealing his bare shoulders, “What do you mean by that?”

“I’ll protect you.”

“WHAT?” I don’t NEED protection!” Watanuki yelled, hiding under the covers again.

“Yuuko-san said she wanted to play baseball at the park later today.”

“Don’t remind me. And why are you changing the subject?”

“Just kiss me,” Doumeki said, pulling Watanuki up by his shoulder, the covers falling to circle his waist. A blush reached his cheeks just as Doumeki’s lips pressed against his.

“You’re so pale, Kimihiro,” Doumeki said a few minutes later.

“Jerk,” came the reply, along with a pillow thrown at him.

“You might want to put some clothes on, we have to get going.”

Watanuki snorted in reply, pushing the covers off him and sitting up. Doumeki stared for a second before saying, “I’ll go in the other room.”

“Will you start coffee or tea or something?”

“Sure.”

Doumeki closed the door behind him, and Watanuki stood up. He yawned, and stretched his aching muscles. He couldn’t believe he was still in pain after sleeping for what seemed like a full night.

He walked over to his closet, slowly opening it and looking through for something to wear. Something he could play baseball in. He hated Saturdays. Well, he hated most days. Though on the weekends, he actually had to pick clothes. Why would he wear his school uniform on days he didn’t even have to go to school? Thought that ended up being what he put on anyway.

Moments later, he swore, remembering that he had told Yuuko he would bring lunch. Doumeki had kept him so busy last night that he had forgotten to get lunch ready for the next day. He sighed, wondering if he would have time to make lunch now. Maybe, maybe not. He hoped so.

A few minutes later, he walked out of his bedroom and to the kitchen where he was handed a mug of tea. A mug of tea that seemed to have too much honey, but he was too busy trying to decide what to make for lunch to complain.

“Make this.”

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It was many hours later, much after dinner. Watanuki was walking to where he was to meet Doumeki for yet another mission, this one possibly life risking. Yuuko had promised their services to Himawari for that night. Apparently, some girls at her friend’s school were refusing to leave the roof. He had just reached the gate where Doumeki was already waiting. He gritted his teeth, waiting for him to say something. His face was bright pink.

When Doumeki said nothing, but was turning to walk towards the school, Watanuki yelled, “What? Aren’t you going to say anything about these?” He pointed at the white and pink clockwork doll ears that Yuuko had forced him to wear so they could communicate during the mission.

Doumeki said something arrogant, and Watanuki called him a jerk. Yuuko was busy giving orders and teasing him, and at some point on the stairs, he had stuck his tongue out at Doumeki.

“Did Yuuko-san tell you to do that?”

“Shut up!” was the all too enthusiastic reply from the bespectacled teen.

He was gasping for air, choking on the putrid stink of the spirit clouds enveloping the school. Those same clouds could not be seen or even sensed by the stoic boy behind him on the stairs.

When they finally found their way to the roof, the smell had become worse, much worse. Watanuki thought he would die from the fits of coughs, and wouldn’t be surprised if he found blood in his hands later. They heard crying, and followed the sounds.

A small table surrounded by three girls was at the center of the roof. They were all held together by a pencil furiously writing on a paper atop the table, where they were playing Kokkuri.

“We can’t leave! We can’t let go! We’ll die!”

“Why not?” Watanuki asked, stepping forward.

“They won’t leave until we are all dead! Can’t let go!”

And without much thought on Watanuki’s part, he was pulling their hands apart. They continued screaming, and trying to push him away. He remembered asking Doumeki to help, but the archer was not moving. Then he was pushed off the roof. He closed his eyes, not wanting to accept, but feeling as if this had to be his end. He fell for what felt like hours, when in reality, it had only been mere seconds.

Then something was holding onto his arm, and he slammed hard into the side of the building.

He opened one of his eyes, looking up to see Doumeki’s right hand firmly gripping his arm.

“D-Doumeki,” he said with a sigh, and then his eyes opened wide, “Behind you!”

“Shut up.”

There was something dark dripping down the archer’s arm, and onto his. Was it blood?”

“Doumeki, you’re bleeding!”

The archer groaned, and Watanuki was quickly pulled upward and swung behind Doumeki. He landed hard on his behind once Doumeki had let go of his arm. The doll ears he had been wearing were knocked off, and landed on the floor a few yards away. He was on the roof again. Then he was scrambling to stand back up again. He jumped back against the railing, a giant serpent spirit coming at them now.

“Now I know what a frog feels like…”

“Idiot!” Watanuki yelled, then screamed, “It’s going to eat us!”

A sound came from the doll ears on the floor. They all looked over toward the ears, even the serpent spirit. He could hear Yuuko’s voice, but wasn’t completely sure what she was saying. But the snake seemed to know what was going on, because it swallowed the airs and then it was gone.

Watanuki was now clinging to the jacket of Doumeki’s school uniform, “Your arm..”

“I think it’s sprained,” Doumeki stated evenly. But after seeing Watanuki’s stare he added, “I’ll be fine.”

Watanuki sighed, looking at the ground, “We should get going.”

Chapter 5
Fandom: xxxHolic
Pairing: Watanuki x Doumeki
Rating: PG-13
Notes: I do not claim these characters, they belong to CLAMP! This chapter takes place during Volume 5.

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Watanuki was still rubbing his head after the whack on the head from the Ame Warashi’s ‘punishment’. Why did she have to include him in Doumeki’s ‘punishment’? In the other hand he held his umbrella, and one of Himawari’s ribbons; the other ribbon was held by Doumeki. The Ame Warashi had hidden when they received the ribbons from their school mate, and he wasn’t completely sure why.

But right now, they were supposed to be on some sort of rescue mission. They weren’t completely sure who they were rescuing, but it was a wish of the Ame Warashi. And right now they were running late. Why? Because of the big idiot standing next to him. The taller man had decided it would be fun to make out in the rain. The reaction from Watanuki later involved much yelling and flailing.

Though Watanuki had kind of wanted to put this mission off. A few reasons for this, but mostly because they didn’t really have enough information…as in, they didn’t really know what they were supposed to do, or even who they were saving. But Yuuko could sometimes be just plain scary, and the Ame Warashi had seemed so desperate; besides the fact that she had probably left enough bumps on Watanuki’s sore head.

“Then we have to do it.”

Watanuki glared at the expressionless man beside him. It took only a few seconds of Doumeki either not noticing or ignoring the glare before Watanuki to become agitated enough to begin yelling. He was doing his signature flail attack that anyone who saw it was some sort of odd dance.

“We’re here.”

Watanuki was snapped out of his yelling, and he looked up to see their destination.

“A Hydrangea bush. It’s huge!”

“I’ve never seen Hydrangeas this red before. Or this big.”

Watanuki looked at Doumeki, “They aren’t supposed to be this big?”

Doumeki shook his head, “And I’ve only seen purple or pink ones at our Temple.”

Watanuki’s leg was snagged by the plant, and he was now trying to free his leg without ruining the flower. He had already tried to leave. This place was giving him the creeps, and he didn’t want to stay here anymore.

“Are you stuck?”

“The flowers are deeper red underneath. Like blood. W-What’s going on?”

There was darkness all around him now. He looked around, but he couldn’t see light coming from anywhere. And there was a horrible smell.

“What’s that smell?” His head turned quickly when he heard the sound of crying. The smell and sound led him to a little girl. She was sitting, head near her knees, and hands trying to cover the flow of tears. He walked up to kneel down beside her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked in a gentle voice.

“I have to go…but I…I’m too scared to leave.”

“Are you lost? Do you want me to help you find your way home?”

“Home is not where I have to go,” the little girl said, now clinging to Watanuki.

“Where is it you need to go then?”

“I don’t want to go alone! It’s so dark here! I’m afraid!”

“It’s okay to be afraid,” Watanuki said with a smile, “If I go with you, then maybe you won’t be so scared.”

She was clinging tighter to him now, pulling on his arm, “You would really come with me? I was so lonely. I kept calling to see if anyone could hear me, if anyone was there, but they kept telling me to stop, to be quiet. But I was so lonely!”

“Who are ‘they’?”

“’They’ are always here. ‘They’ were here before I came. ‘They’ think I am a bother. But I didn’t even want to come here.”

“Who are ‘they’?”

“Can’t you see them too, big brother?”

The horrible smelling smoke was back again, and he found himself covering his nose as the girl pointed saying, “Over there.” Watanuki took her hand, pulling her back.

“I don’t think we should go that way.”

She was holding tightly to his arm now and crying, “But we have to go there, we have to go together!”

And then ‘they’ were now talking, saying that Watanuki could not got there. The girl only clinged to his arms more tightly, crying more about how he had to go with her.

“You…must…go…Bring…the…child…with…you.”

He promised her that if she came with him that she would not have to be lonely ever again. And then he was beneath the Hydrangea bush; Himawari’s ribbon in one had, and the skeletal hand of the little girl in the other.

It was dark out now, but he could only have been there for a few minutes, right? Ten hours Yuuko had said. Doumeki had stood ten hours in the rain waiting for him. He had abandoned his umbrella, and tried to dig. But when that hadn’t worked, Yuuko had told him to hold he ribbon. He would have done whatever it took to get Watanuki back. He would have paid any price.

Doumeki. Did he really care that much about Watanuki? Doumeki. He was exhausted, it was Watanuki’s fault. Why did he stay there that long? Why hadn’t he just gone home? More importantly, what was this feeling? He had never felt anything like this before. It was a weird feeling to know that someone was watching out for him, that someone cared about him that much. But then again, maybe it was for the bento.

He felt himself becoming angry again. Who calls their boyfriend an idiot? That b*****d! Always thinking with his stomach! Did he really love Watanuki’s cooking more than he lo-liked Wataniki?”

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“What is that?” Doumeki asked him the a few days later at school.

“A pipe fox. It was payment from the Ame Warashi,” Watanuki replied as the fuzzy, snake-like creature slid under his shirt. They were supposed to be studying, but this thing was kind of distracting…

“Ah! That tickles!” Watanuki cried, flailing about while trying to grab the pipe fox. Then his eyes went wide when Doumeki’s hand found its way under Watanuki’s shirt and was pulling the pipe fox out.

“Pervert,” he said under his breath.

“So this is a pipe fox. My grandfather told me about them.”

Then Watanuki was ranting about how Yuuko would probably be docking from his pay for bringing the pipe fox out, even if it had been an accident. The pipe fox had followed him, it’s not like he was trying to bring it with him.

“I think it likes you,” Doumeki said.

“Really? How can you tell?”

Then it was looking out of the window and a feather blew into his hand. Down below, he could see a girl in their school’s uniform walking, a pair of wings were sticking out of her back. Wings that later Doumeki claimed he could not see, and neither could Himawari.

Yuuko had burned the feather later that day when he had gone to work. Now he was alone in his apartment, laying on his couch and staring at the ceiling. Himawari would look so cute with wings. But what is it that Yuuko had said about them? They were bad or something, right? But he hadn’t sensed anything, and neither had Doumeki. Even if Doumeki could not see these things, he could sense spiritual pressure.

He was tired after working at Yuuko’s shop. He might have called Doumeki when he reached his apartment, on some occasions. But he was mad at Doumeki right now. He was sure that even though he had yelled more than usual that day that Doumeki probably hadn’t noticed.

“Stupid Doumeki,” he said, rolling over on the couch, but in the back of his mind wondering what the archer was doing right now.

“You’re sulking,” he said to himself, another part of him shouting back, “No I am not!”

He could just imagine Yuuko saying to him that he was sexually frustrated, and Maru and Moro echoing her claim. He sighed, Yuuko was just so frustrating sometimes.

The phone rang. He looked up. Once. He sat up. Twice. Did he want to answer? Thrice. It rang and rang, and Watanuki was getting annoyed. Finally, he picked it up.

“What?”

“Kimihiro?”

“Oh, it’s just you. What do you want?”

“Are you busy?”

“Yes,” he lied, tilting his head toward the right and looking toward the television in the corner of the room.

“Oh, what are you doing?”

“Studying.”

“Do you need help?”

“Not from you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’ve got to go.”

“Wait.”

“Huh?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No.”

“You aren’t a good liar, Kimihiro.”

“I’m not…”

“You’re not studying. You’re sitting on the couch, staring at the ceiling.”

“What?” How the hell did he know?

“I’m coming over.”

“No!” but Doumeki had already hung up. He sat there, listening to the dial tone for a few minutes, before finally clicking the phone off. And probably a few minutes later he had started dozing off but was jumping off the couch when he heard a knock at the door.

“Go away!” he yelled at the door, and didn’t even bother getting up. There was another knock. Watanuki groaned, finally standing up and walking across the room to the door.

He opened it a crack and said, “Why did you come?”

“I told you I was coming.”

Doumeki pushed the door open, gently closing it behind him.

“Kimihiro, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

The archer raised and eyebrow, staring at Watanuki, “You’re mad at me.” It was not a question.

“Well no, not really.”

“But you were?”

“I’m not mad at you.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“Why did you wait ten hours in the rain for me?”

“I didn’t want you to disappear.”

“Because you might never eat again?”

Doumeki once again raised his eyebrow, “Kimihiro, that was a joke. I was kidding.”

“So you don’t lo-…like my cooking more than you like me?”

“Do you like Kunogi more than you like me?”

“No.”

“So, you’re going to be at the night fair tomorrow night?”

“Yeah..Um.. Himawari invited me.”

“Me too. Something about wanting the three of us to go together.”

“Yeah.”

“You look cute in a yukata.”

Watanuki blushed, “I am not cute.”

“You’re being cute right now.”

“I am not,” Watanuki said, turning away. His face was now becoming a deeper shade of red. Then he asked, “Do you want tea?”

“No. I’m kind of tired.”

“What?”

“I ran here.”

“Why?”

“So I could see you. Why else.”

It was then that Watanuki noticed Doumeki brought his school bag, “Then you want to sit on the couch?”

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White Day had come and gone, and Yuuko had assured him that he had to pay back three people. Though he really thought that Yuuko and the Zashiki Warashi hardly counted. He had made the chocolate Yuuko and the Zashiki Warashi had given him. It had been a month after the girl with the wings had taken a knife to him and the wings had attacked. The pipe fox was still in its Ultra Big Mode because of it. He had actually asked Yuuko if Doumeki might be able to help with that, but she told him that the concentration it would take to do that might kill Doumeki. Watanuki didn’t want that.

He made some cute candies for Yuuko and Himawari the night before White Day, and he had gotten hair clips for the Zashiki Warashi; but he had not seen her on White Day. One of the twins had shown up while he Himawari and Doumeki were in the park that day, and they gave her some of the candies he had made. And even though the chocolate Doumeki had eaten that day had not been meant for him, Doumeki had something special waiting for him when he got back to his apartment that night. He was thinking about changing his locks…

He still hadn’t been able to give the White Day gift he had gotten for the Zashiki Warashi. Her cousin the Ame Warashi was going to be mad. But he hadn’t seen her since Valentine’s Day. What was he going to do?

Later that day, Yuuko ended up sending him on a mission to that she said would make the pipe fox return to its normal size, and lucky for him, he saw the Zashiki Warashi there and gave her the clips. After which he was promptly attacked by the tengu that followed her around. He hadn’t tried to make her cry, and she wasn’t sad, but apparently to them, any time she was crying was bad, and it was Watanuki’s fault.

It was now late evening, and he was back in his apartment receiving a much needed, a very pleasant back massage from Doumeki. It felt better than it probably should. How had the archer become so good at this?

“Right there, Shizuka. It hurts the most there.”

“Okay,” he said, working out a knot in Watanuki’s back, “How is that?”

“Good.”

“Just good?”

“Amazing.”

Chapter 7
Fandom: xxxHolic
Pairing: Watanuki x Doumeki
Rating: PG-13
Notes: I do not claim these characters, they belong to CLAMP! This chapter takes place during Volume 7, and the first couple pages of Volume 8. It seemed like a better place to stop. It is so hard to make this fit right, but I am pretty happy with it actually.

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The string was pulled back an arrow knocked an currently being aimed. Then sting and arrow were released simultaneously. The string slapped against the left forearm, protected by a leather armguard. Watanuki cold not see where it hit, because someone in front of him was blocking the vision of his right eye. But with the current amount of cheering, Watnuki could tell that Doumeki had hit the bull's eye.

"Yay, Doumeki!" Himawari cheered beside him as many girls from Doumeki's fan club, as Watanuki like to call it, stood up and cheered in the front row. They were standing up, and he couldn't see the line of archers walking out of formation. He stood up to leave the stands.

"Watanuki-kun, were are you going?" Himawari asked.

"I've got to get to work," he replied, lifting his school bag as he began to walk away.

"Isn't Doumeki walking with you?"

"He doesn't have to, and I'd prefer if he didn't!"

Today had been an odd day. he had woken up at Yuuko's with the crazy little pork bun attached to his face after a rather odd dream that Himawari had appeared in. Then later he had stopped at Doumeki's on the way to school where he had gotten caught in a spider's web. All day, Doumeki's eye seemed to be bugging him. He had never known Doumeki's eyes to be so sensitive, but it was probably nothing to worry about, seeing as he topped yet another archery competition.

He stopped outside the club room, members looking him over as they walked out, once again in their black school uniforms. He felt uncomfortable waiting here for Doumeki with all the eyes on him. All the members seemed to have left already, and he walked into the club room to see Doumeki. He was putting the shirt and jacket park of his uniform back on, and then his hand reached for his right eye. It was obviously still bothering him.

"Are you okay, Shizuka?" Watnuki asked when he had made sure the two of them were alone.

"I'm fine," he answered, taking his hand off his eye and picking up his school bag. He turned around to look at Watnuki.

"I thought you might have left for work already."

"I... I wanted to walk with you," he said, his cheeks turning slightly red.

He was looking over Watanuki's head and at the door. He turned around to see what Doumeki was looking about, but there was nothing there. Then he was pulled around by Doumeki, their lips meeting for mere seconds before they were gone and he was walking out the door. Watanuki followed him, trying to keep pace with the taller boy's long strides.

A few times during their walk, he caught Doumeki bringing his hand up to his right eye. He wondered what was wrong. They were getting close to Doumeki's temple when he dropped to his knees, his hand over that same eye.

"It won't open."

"What? Doumeki!"

He was pulling Doumeki's arm away from his face, they eye had been pulled closed by a spider's web.

"We have to get you to Yuuko's!"

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I can't go in her shop."

He told Watanuki to just leave him at the temple, and that he would be fine, but Watanuki had ran to Yuuko's shop. Without even stopping to breath, he was telling her what had happened.

"You have to help him! Please tell me what to do!"

"It's going to cost you."

"I know!" Watanuki yelled back, and he didn't care what the cost was, he had to help Doumeki.

"You must do something worse to the spider holding the grudge against Doumeki-kun."

"Like what?"

"Destroying it's eggs."

"It's eggs?"

She nodded, "Not far from it's web, the spider had laid eggs. You must destroy them, and the grudge will transfer to you."

He nodded, "And what will the payment be?"

"Besides a cut in your pay, you will see."

He was running out of the house now, and back through Yuuko's yard then out the gate. He was on his way to where the spider's web had been. He didn't see Doumeki on the way at all, but when he got there, he was searching for the eggs. They were tiny, smaller than any eggs he had ever seen, and covered in sticky spider silk. He wanted to apologize to the spider, but he knew that if he did, the grudge most likely would not transfer to him. It felt horrible doing something that seemed so wrong, so evil. But he wanted to help Doumeki. He closed his eyes, lifting his leg, stomping down. It was done.

Then he ran home, taking off his shoes, and hiding under his covers. He kept his eyes closed for a long time, tears still finding their way out and down his hot cheeks. He knew he had just done something horrible, he didn't know if he could forgive himself for this. Doumeki would be angry as well, he knew.

When he finally decided to open his eyes, he was half expecting his right eye to not open at all, but it did. Something was still wrong though. True, his eye had not been sealed like Doumeki's had been earlier, instead, he just could not see anything at all out of it. He stood up, walking into the bathroom, and looking into the mirror to look at his eye.

His jaw dropped at what he saw. His sight had been taken, the blue portion of his eye was completely gone, and all that was left was a useless white ball. Needless to say, he did not return to Yuuko's shop that night.

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The next morning, he stared at his eye for the longest time before pulling a white patch over his eye, and then replacing his glasses at his nose. He was still trying to come up with an excuse for wearing the bandage over his eye, and having little luck.

He walked into the other room, looking for his school bag. He guessed that he had thrown it as soon as he entered the apartment last night, and sure enough, it was upside down on the floor near the door. He pulled the black jacket of his school uniform on then picked up the bag and was out the door, closing and locking it behind him.

His legs were moving without him, faster and faster down the road towards the school. He hadn't meant to do it, but he somehow found himself in front of the temple where Doumeki lived. He stopped for a moment, looking through the gate, and as soon as he saw Doumeki coming he began walking even faster again.

"Hey, wait," Doumeki called after him. Watanuki didn't slow, and Doumeki kept calling after him.

Finally Watanuki yelled, "My name is not 'hey'!"

"It's gone, my eye is fine again."

Watanuki continued walking, his left eye fixed on the pavement, his heart beating so fast he could hear it thumping against his chest. It felt too hot now, and it wasn't really all that hot outside. His heart almost stopped when a strong hand gripped his arm, turning him around.

"What did you do?" came Doumeki's accusation.

"Nothing."

"What is that?" he asked pointing at the bandage covering his eye.

"Nothing, just a sty."

He was then flung up against the fence surrounding the land Doumeki's temple was in.

"Hey! Stop it!" Watanuki yelled, as his glasses were thrown off, hitting the ground not too far away. He was reaching for Doumeki's hands, as the archer reached for the bandage over his eye. He was panicking now, he didn't want Doumeki to see what happened, and no matter how much he struggled, he just couldn't stop Doumeki. The archer was too strong.

Then it came off, his hair fell to cover his right eye and he stared at the ground again, letting his eyes narrow a bit in sadness, awaiting Doumeki's anger. And he was yelling now, yelling for him to bring 'that woman' here.

"I.. we have to get to school."

"CALL THAT WOMAN NOW!"

He had never heard Doumeki raise his voice before. He knew Doumeki would be angry, but he never expected him to yell, this was not like Doumeki at all. He swallowed hard, then nodded, "Alright."

He left for school as soon as Yuuko met them in the park, Doumeki wanted to talk to her alone. He wouldn't know what to say anyway, and he didn't want Doumeki to yell anymore.

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The week went on, and he saw less and less of Doumeki. He seemed to be really busy at the Temple, and staying later at school for archery. At least, that is what was said. But Watanuki know, Doumeki was mad at him. He had never remembered Doumeki avoiding him like this before, and he wanted to talk to Doumeki. He was starting to get kind of lonely, even though he was at Yuuko's more often now that Doumeki was avoiding him,

Himawari had even asked him about Doumeki when he was telling her about one of Yuuko's customers. She had brought a picture that was now sitting in a frame in an unused room at Yuuko's shop.

He found himself writing Doumeki's name on his school work, and either scribbling over it in pen or erasing it if he had used pencil. Doumeki was mad at him, and he still could not stop thinkin about the stoic boy. He didn't know what to do, but he had to do something soon or he was going to go crazy.

He knew he had done something wrong, and he had the bumps on the head to prove it. In the next week, he was much more clumsy than usually, causing many bumps and bruises from running into things since he now had a blind eye. Himawari was concerned it made him happy to know that someone cared about what he was going through, even though he also knew he did not deserve any sympathy for what he had done.

It also didn't help that he was now seeing odd things out of the right side of his field of vision. Fields, trees, many different things at the weirdest times. He would be sitting with Himawari at a local fast food restaurant, and he would see half of her, and the rest was an unfamiliar landscape. Something was definitely wrong.

It was the beginning of a new week, and he found Himawari handing him a book.

"What is this?"

"A book I am loaning to Doumeki. Will you take it to him?"

After some flailing, he finally agreed, and was later on his way to the temple where Doumeki lived, fully expecting to be ignored.

The temple was so big, and he was having a hard time finding his way around, even though he had been there before, been in Doumeki's room. He even remembered Doumeki telling him not to enter without warning. And he still didn't know what the big deal was. Doumeki was always entering his apartment without warning, then again, Doumeki had a spare key to Watanuki's apartment.

Then he reached the place where he had become caught in the spider's web a week and a half ago. His hand instinctively covering his missing eye. A vision appeared in the right side of his vision, a forest this time. Where? Where was it, and why was he seeing it?

"Does it hurt?" came a toneless voice behind him.

He jumped, "DON'T SNEAK UP ON PEOPLE LIKE THAT, YOU JERK!"

"Your eye, does it hurt?" he repeated, his face looking slightly angry still. He taller boy was wearing a black Gi and pants and the normal wooden sandals he wore around the temple so often.

"It doesn't hurt," he said, not wanting to tell Doumeki about the visions he had been seeing through it instead.

"Then get to work, a one-eyed guy shouldn't be wandering around," he ordered angrily.

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" he yelled before adding, "Himawari sent me here to deliver a book she said you wanted to borrow. What's with that pile of books? Were you just at the library?" He was now pointing at the many old tomes Doumeki now held in his hands.

The archer shook his head, "These are part of our collect on."

Watanuki didn't know they temple had it's own collection, and after learning about how old the little library was, he took a look at the books Doumeki was holding. Stuff about spells wards, myths and folklore. Probably all things that Doumeki had read before, but why would he be reading them now? Maybe he was cleaning the temple's library. Doumeki then asked him again why he wasn't going to work, then said if Watanuki wanted to stay he needed to start cleaning and pointed over to a broom. Watanuki went to Yuuko's.

Yuk insisted that Doumeki was not just straightening up the collection, but that he was looking for something. Why else would he have taken out a book about deciphering spells?

"What would he be looking for."

Yuuko pointed at his missing eye, "A way to return your eye to normal."

Watanuki's eyes widened a bit at Yuuko's suggestion. Could that really be the reason he had not been around so much? He wasn't really avoiding Watanuki, while he did still seem angry, he was trying to find a way to help Watanuki?

"Since I refused to help him, he is out to do it on his own."

"That moron! I told him to forget about it! It was MY decision!"

"Well, if that is the case then, you should realize that what Doumeki-kun is doing is by his own decision."

And then Yuuko was calling for more sake, but Watanuki ignored her, walking to the kitchen, preparing a bento to bring to Doumeki for dinner. Usually he would not be cooking this late, but with all the work that Doumeki was doing.. well for him... he thought, blushing about it already, he might as well make something for Doumeki.

He found Doumeki in the small building filled with books. It seemed that he had been searching through them for quite some time. They were scattered about the floor, and some were in piles. He was pulling more books off shelves and seaching through seemingly random tomes. What the hell was he still doing up this late.

"Who's there?"

"It's Watanuki-sama!"

"Do you know what time it is?" Doumeki asked angrily.

"I would be asking you the same question. I thought you were supposed to be straitening the collection, but there are books everywhere, it doesn't seem like you have gotten any work done at all."

"Shouldn't you be at work?"

"I'm done for the night."

"Then why aren't you going home?"

Watanuki answered by shoving a bag with Doumeki's bento in his face. The other boy's eyes widened slightly and Watanuki said, "I brought you dinner, it was leftovers from what Yuuko wanted earlier."

"Idiot."

"WHAT WAS THAT, YOU JERK?" Watanuki yelled, grabbing Doumeki's shirt.

"Well if you're that energetic, I guess that means you're alright."

And after a few odd occurrences, including words flying out of the book that Himawari was loaning to Doumeki, Yuuko appeared in time for Mokona to make a good meal of it. Then she stated she was here to check out the room and it's treasures, and to claim a share in the bento Watanuki had made.

"Watanuki said it was just left overs."

Yuuko shook her head, "We had flowing somen today."

"Somen, huh?" Doumeki said.

"YOU SHUT UP!"

Chapter 9
Fandom: xxxHolic
Pairing: Watanuki x Doumeki
Rating: PG
Notes: I do not claim these characters, they belong to CLAMP! This chapter takes place during Volume 9. Since I have been trying to make it behind the scenes.. and well Watanuki is already the maing character, I have switched POV to make it more Behind the Scenes.. So here you are, Chapter 9 after two whole weeks of my emo drama... I have finally finished it!

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Doumeki sat in his room, staring at the ceiling. He hadn't been to Watanuki's in a few days. Apparently, the bespectacled teen had been staying at Yuuko-san's for a few days. At least he was safe there, Doumeki thought.

For the first time in a while, Doumeki was actually bored. Up until recently, he had spent at least a week studying how to get Watanuki's eye back. But that was never to be, for the eye had already been eaten, and Doumeki found himself giving up half his vision to the witch to give to Watanuki. So now he and Watanuki shared that eye, and he saw things that Watanuki saw. A lot more than he told Watanuki he could see.

Most of the times he saw things were when Watanuki felt intense emotions, but not always. He saw a few times Watanuki in the shower, Watanuki crying. He had a hard time seeing that. Doumeki wanted so much to comfort Watanuki during those times, but he didn't want to bring it up, because he didn't want Watanuki to know just how much he saw.

Watanuki hadn't actually realized it, but Doumeki had sold him a dream at the begining of the week. Doumeki's first dream of the year, where his grandfather, Haruki, had appeard. Doumeki Haruka... Watanuki had said that he looked like a mirror image of his grandfather, so Watanuki must have been seeing him when he was much younger. Watanuki had also that that his grandfather smiled much more. Should Shizuka smile more too?

What did Doumeki Shizuka have to smile about? Well, he was with Watanuki, but he still wasn't sure if his Watanuki Kimihiro was in love with him. He didn't quite remember how long it had been since he had told Watanuki that he was in love with him, and Watanuki... well, Watanuki hadn't said anything. Doumeki was depressed, and it seemed no matter what had happened between that time and now, it had only gotten worse. But they were close, weren't they?

He had not brought it up again after that. But more and more, he was starting to think that he probably should. It was hard to be in a relationship when you didn't really know how the other person felt. But Watanuki was changing. The yelling had gone down a bit, and he was even fawning over Kunogi less. Well, granted, Kunogi had been a lot more busy recently, and they haven't seen her quite as ofter. That had to be it.

He lifted a hand to his head. Watanuki was depressed now too. Why was Watanuki depressed? He could see Watanuki through his right eye, well, at least see what Watanuki saw, but he couldn't tell what the other was thinking. Watanuki was supposed to be loud, to wear his heart on his sleeve. It had always been easy for Doumeki to know what he was thinking, but not right now. What was on Watanuki's mind?

Then he was seeing something through the right eye he shared with the one he loved. A cherry tree, and below the tree a girl that couldn't be older than about ten or eleven. She had a rather spritual look about her as she stood below the tree, turning to Watanuki. The look in her eye made him believe that she knew a lot about Watanuki without even talking to him. There was a spirit in the tree, one that Doumeki would have never seen with his own eyes, that was Watanuki's thing.

A few moments a woman appeared and was yelling at Watanuki. This had to be the girl's mother. She seemed scared, and wouldn't let the girl touch her. When they left, the girl mouthed something to Watanuki, he couldn't hear what she said, it was only an eye they shared anyway.

And that was it. He was seeing his ceiling again through that eye. He wondered if it was really just dependant on Watanuki's emotion, the things that Doumeki saw. What else could it be though? It seemed so random sometimes.

Doumeki sighed, tilting his head to the side to stare at the wall now. It appeared that Watanuki was hanging out with Kunogi right now. He didn't like that too much. Kunogi was bad luck, and bad things tended to happen when she was around/involved. Watanuki still didn't see that, he was just too nice to other people. He sometimes wished Watanuki would be more like that around him, but he had long ago decided that the yelled meant they were much closer than Watanuki even though, even if he said it was just to keep others from being suspicious of their relationship. Doumeki was sure that people though the opposite anyway. Kunogi and Yuuko most likely knew about it already anyway. He still didn't understand why Watanuki didn't want people to know about them.

-------------

The next day after school, he had given that idiot his umbrella and tea before he went to work at Yuuko's. He was surprised when later he got a phone call from Watanuki asking if he would spend the night. He quickly agreed, packing a bag, and hurrying over.

"I saw him again."

"Who?"

"Syaoran-kun. Well, one of them. He was looking for an eye."

"Everyone seems to be looking for eyes right now."

"Yeah. Weird things are happening."

"Hn."

"I made dinner. Are you hungry?"

"Only if there is fried squid."

"Jerk! I made soba."

"I guess it can't be helped," Doumeki said, pulling his hands away from his ears.

"Spring is almost here," Watanuki said, serving Doumeki his portion of soba.

"Hn."

"We'll be 17 soon."

"Hn."

"Shizuka! Can't you say more than that!"

"Sorry."

"GAH! And you're already eating without me!"

"Needs more salt."

"Jerk!"

Chapter 11
Fandom: xxxHolic
Pairing: Watanuki x Doumeki
Rating: PG-13
Notes: I do not claim these characters, they belong to CLAMP! This chapter takes place during Volume 11. POV still switched to Doumeki.. This will be the last chapter I write for this for a while, since Volume 12 hasn't actually come out yet.. so until then, enjoy!

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Watanuki had finally returned to school almost a week later. After that day, his mom told him he needed to rest as well, but Doumeki only missed one day of school, he had to ba back to kyudo club as soon as possible. He had Kunogi had waited for Watanuki to walk him to school that day, and it frustrated him to no end that the bespectacled teen had given her a magical bird that he had hatched.

But was it just him, or had Watanuki blushed when he had told Doumeki thank you. A thank you from Watanuki was rare enough, but he had blushed too. Watanuki had tried hard to cover it up, but Doumeki saw anyway, and he wasn't sure what to think. But he knew just how the little pipe fox felt, when it had found out Watanuki named the little bird, and still had not named him. Granted, it was a completely different situation, but each revolved around a certain bad luck girl.

Only a few days after Yuuko had given Doumeki an egg, that she said to keep as payment for help with the water, Watanuki was planning a date with Kunogi. Doumei would be going as well. True, he had invited himself, it's not like it would be anything special, but he was not going to let Watanuki be alone with that girl.

So, they had taken Doumeki's suggestion, and were now eating at Kanmiya. Sure, he sounded like a lame advertisement, but he felt at the time it was the best way to step into their conversation. For a few reasons of course, not just because he didn't like Kunogi, but because bad things happened to Watanuki when she was around. He was good at pretending to be indifferent when it came to her, considering he acted that way around everyone.

"Doumeki! Is there a problem?" Watanuki asked, when he saw the stoic teen staring off into space. Doumeki looked up.

"Huh?"

"Can't you say more than one word when you talk?" Watanuki yelled. Kunogi was clapping her hands together and stating that they were such good friends in that annoying voice of hers, and Watanuki was using his signature flail attack again.

This place was a rather large shopfront with a little restaurant. He was told it had great food, and had been wanting to come here with Watanuki for the longest time. Of course,he had wanted to come here alone with Watanuki, but there was no way Watanuki would go out alone with Doumeki on anything similar to a 'date'.

The waitress was taking Watanuki's order now, and Doumeki ordered the same thing, much to Watanuki's displeasure, then the oh-so-cheerful Kunogi smiled and also ordered the same thing. Watanuki swooned. Doumeki rolled his eyes.

After a few minutes of eyeing (Well glaring really) Doumeki, Watanuki got up and walked off, saying he had to go to the bathroom. It was at this time that Kunogi finally decided to talk.

"Doumeki-kun, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Well, you and Watanuki are together, right?"

"Huh?"

"You're not? Everyone thinks you two are dating."

"Well, kind of, but no one was supposed to know, at least Watanuki didn't want them to."

"Really? That is nice to hear."

"Why are you sorry?"

"Because of how Watanuki has been acting. Since he fell from the window. It seems he has been giving me much more attention than usual. You said he didn't want people to know you were dating?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I think since then he is trying to cover it up more then. I mean, you do so much for him and he is probably sure other people will notice. Too bad he doesn't know they already have."

"Hn."

"Doumeki-kun, please don't be mad at me."

Doumeki had always had a hard time holding grudges, so he sighed, looking at Kunogi and said, "I'm not mad at you."

This was just as Watanuki was coming up behind them.

"Why would you be mad at her!" he yelled, hiting the back of Doumeki's head. The action went completely ignored as Kunogi began talking about school related activities. Some sort of festival or something coming up.

After a few minutes of her rambling on and Watanuki being fixated by each word, their waitress came back with their food.

"I should bring something to Yuuko-san when I go back to work later."

Doumeki made a suggestion of something he thought that she would like. Watanuki flailed about momentarily before finally agreeing that she probably would.

He took a sip of his tea before looking at the food in front of him. Nothing was ever as good as Watanuki's cooking, and even his own mother's cooking couldn't compare to Watanuki's. He glanced at Kunogi who was already happily eating.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Watanuki asked. Doumeki looked up and nodded, before saying, "I want tokoyaki and tempura rice with shrimp for lunch tomorrow."

"WHAT!!!" Watanuki yelled. He began flailing in his seat once more, ready to jump up, but Doumeki had pulled him back down.

"WHAT'S WITH THIS!! YOU KNOW I DO NOT TAKE ORDERS!!" Then he went out on a long rant that Doumeki ignored, while Kunogi giggled. People were starting to stare at them, and when Doumeki finally pointed that out a few minutes later, Watanuki quieted down, looking around a bit. His face had turned bright red.

That was when Doumeki picked up his chopsticks and began eating.

"Do you EVER listen to anything I say?" Watanuki asked, sounding very serious.

"Rarely," Doumeki said ans Kunogi giggled more, proclaiming that they were great friends for the second time during the outing.

"We should go to the movies some time," she added before Watanuki could start yelling that he and Doumeki most certainly were not friends.

"That would be nice, but does he really have to come?" he asked, pointing at the still eating Doumeki. He didn't even look up, pretending Watanuki had not said anything.

"Of course! Since you and Doumeki are such great friends, you should always hang out?" She smiled, tilting her head slightly to the side. Watanuki side, picking up his own chopsticks and eating now too. Kunogi laughed.

"Doumeki-kun, there is a tournament coming up?"

Doumeki nodded.

"May I cheer for you?'

Watanuki's jaw dropped as Doumeki answered, "Sure."

"You can come too, Watanuki-kun!"

"I will sit next to you!" Watanuki said, swooning again. If this had been a cartoon, Doumeki swore there would be little red hearts swirling around the other boy. He rolled his eyes again.

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A few days later, Doumeki sat on Watanuki's couch, waiting for him to get home from work. They had seen the kitsune earlier that had given Watanuki oden. Doumeki went with Watanuki to return thei bento box, and he also gave the little kitsune a pair of mittens. Doumeki complained a bit, asking where his thank you present was, and Watanuki had yelled that there wasn't one. But the next day, Watanuki had surprised him with a set of gloves, and he had also given some to Kunogi and Kohane.

That was only earlier today that they were out with Kohane, and her mother appeared later, sounding very angry that she was seeing Watanuki again. Watanuki thought he would see her again because she had said that she would, so he decided he would make her a bento, and began listing off what he was going to make. Of course, Doumeki had to invite himself as well. If Kohane's mother saw her with Watanuki again, the outcome would surely be bad.

It was starting to get very late when Watanuki turned the key and walked throught the door, saying he was home as he took off his jacket and shoes.

"You... cooked?" Watanuki asked, seeing the table set in the middle of the room. His eyes were slightly wide.

"As a thank you present for the gloves."

Watanuki blushed, a smile appearing at his lips. There it was. Just what he wanted. Doumeki couldn't help but smile as well, and then Watanuki was sitting next to him, clinging tightly to his shirt.

"Thank you."

"Kimihiro, I love you," it was the second time he was saying it, and this time with more meaning than the first. A tear rolled down Watanuki's cheek as he was clinging even more tightly, burrying his head in Doumeki's chest.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I made you jealous, didn't I?"

"No."

"Don't lie, I know you were mad."

"Maybe a little."

The sat there in silence for a few minutes, Watanuki still clinging to Doumeki's shirt. He put an arm around the smaller boy and ran a hand through Watanuki's short, dark hair.

"What did you make," Watanuki finally asked, looking back at the table.

"Nothing special."

"You always say that."

"Do I?" Doumeki asked raising an eyebrow. Watanuki punched his arm, playfully, before Doumeki pulled him into a kiss.

They pulled away after a few mintues, Watanuki was blushing furiously, "We should eat before the food gets cold."

"Hn."

"Is that all you ever say?"

Doumeki laughed, kissing Watanuki again.

"If you keep kissing me, we will never eat."

"Then let's eat."

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"Rikuo! I can't find the perscription!" A light-haired boy called from the other side of the counter. A taller man with darker hair emergerd from the backroom, a similar expression on his face as Doumeki.

"What perscription?"

"For Doumeki... " He read off the first name of a woman, while Doumeki leaned up against the counter. His mother had asked him to come pick up her medicine. She had some sort of virus that was going around, nothing big, and he agreed to go and get it at the Green Drug Pharmacy. He watched the two boys bicker for a few minutes, and couldn't help but think that the light-haired boy reminded him a lot of Watanuki.

"I'm sorry, here is your perscription," the light-haired boy said a few minutes later, handing him a tiny box with the medicine inside. He rang up the order and Doumeki paid, walking out of the store.

Watanuki was standing outside, looking more than a little lost. Doumeki was sure Watanuki had been here before, considering it was the closest drug store to his apartment, so why was he looking so confused?

"Hey."

"My name is NOT 'hey'!" Watanuki snapped, pulling a bag closer to himself, in his other hand he held his usual school bag.

"Why are you here?"

"Yuuko asked me to get more hang over medicine."

"Before school?"

"Well yeah! Why else would I be here? And what about you?"

"Perscription for my mom."

"Oh, is she sick?"

"She'll be fine. Just the flu or something."

"Oh, well okay."

"Just got back from Yuuko-san's, or going?'

"Going."

"Let's go then."

"I didn't invite you to walk with me!"

"Hn."

Watanuki blushed as they walked the familiar route to Yuuko's shop. He dropped off the medicine, then they were on their way to school, stopping at Doumeki's to drop of the perscription for his mom.

The school bells were ringing as soon as they reached Cross Private High School. They were lucky they had made it in time for the bells, meaning they had a few minutes left before they had to be in class.

Lunch was particularly exceptional today. Doumeki smirked, it had to be because he had made Watanuki dinner last night, though he knew Watanuki would not tell him that now. Funny how this was the lunch he asked for last week. Watanuki hadn't made it then because he didn't have the ingrediants. That was fine, at least he got this lunch.

Kunogi was off helping a teacher with something, much to Watanuki's dismay. Students kept walking by them, some staring, and he could tell that Watnanuki was more than a little uncomfortable.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, though one of the students in his class had acted up and was sent out at some point. A rare event, but the rest of the class seemed to think it was funny. Doumeki, however, hadn't been paying attention, and didn't know what was going on until the student was sent out.

The walk home started out normal. The rants from Watanuki, Kunogi harping that they were awesome friends, Tanpopo chirping, the usual. Until Watanuki collapsed in the street.

"Watanuki-kun!" Kunogi yelled, rushing over to the fallen boy. He was unconcious.

"Don't touch him," Doumeki reminded the horrified girl. He walked over and was lifting Watanuki off the ground already.

"We have to get him to Yuuko-san's."

Kunogi nodded, and at a more quickened pace they found their way to Yuuko's shop. He strode through the gate, Yuuko was on the porch, smoking. Normal enough, though the fact that she seemed to be waiting for them was quite annerving.

"What's wrong with him?" Kunogi asked.

After Yuuko looked him over for a minute, she said, "He's exhausted, he must have been up all night. He will be fine, let's get him to bed then, shall we?"

The tall woman led Doumeki and Himawari to one of her guest rooms, and instructed Doumeki to lay him on the bed there. It was a rather comfortable looking bed with a canopy of black lace and butterflies.

"I'll keep him here over night, you two remember what tomorrow is, right?"

"His birthday," Doumeki replied without thought.

"Right, and I want to have a party. You both are invited of course."

"I can't wait!" Kunogi exclaimed. Doumeki just nodded.

"Well, you two should go home, see you tomorrow then!"

"Yes!" Kunogi said, happily.

"Hn," was all Doumeki said in response.

After Kunogi went off in the direction of her house, Doumeki started thinking about why Watanuki had been up all night. Was it because he had been studying? Or something else?