Disclaimer: Don't own the characters

Chainfire

The wind carried all the hope the young man had to be rescued as he struggled from his bonds. He cried out to the dark sky.

His feeble attempt to be independent had failed. He had raised his voice at his boss and his inseparable companion that he was strong enough to be on his own.

He was tired of having them getting hurt, this was his problem he reasoned.

However the power of the angry ghosts had been overwhelming and had crushed his wandering mind.

He closed his eyes thinking of ways to save his own hide. This time he did not have the luxury of a hero, this time he was truly on his own. The young man did not want to die here. he could not allow himself to whimper and could not go without a fight.

He gathered all the resolve he could muster and used his willpower to go forward.

He honed his power and unleashed it. It was stronger than a tsunami and an earthquake together. His power was released in a wave of pure energy, things around him scattered to the four winds. It destroyed all the elements surrounding him in a perfect circle. He fell to the ground, drained but alive before the darkness claimed him he smiled, he had done it, and he had survived on his own if only for the first time.

He woke up in a comfortable futon, looking around he recognized Doumeki's room. He knew that the archer always put his own life before his own. He knew he had to apologize and thank the archer for all he had done for him. He had to stop his childish behavior and behave like a rational being.

"Doumeki?" Watanuki whispered softly as he made his way across the house, the house was very quiet it resembled the archer to a certain degree.

He found the archer outside the house, he was poised and he emanated power as he released the arrows with deadly precision. Watanuki watched mesmerized afraid of interrupting the endless time of beauty.

However the archer turned to look at Watanuki with those calm eyes of his. Watanuki did not break the connection and instead stared back with so much emotion that Doumeki flinched but he did not turn away.

"Doumeki…I need to tell you something" Watanuki started his voice steady but filled with emotion. His blue eyes wavered and his lips quivered slightly.

"There's no need" Doumeki said as he placed his bow carefully against the trunk of the tree. His arrows joined the bow. All the time his eyes never left those sad blue orbs.

"I must. Doumeki I want to apologize for my behavior. I have not been half the good friend you are" Watanuki picked his words carefully as tears trickled down gently on his pale cheek.

"But you have" Doumeki whispered with a small smile.

Watanuki shook his head sadly as more tears trickled down.

"I need to tell you so I can move forward" Watanuki said and clenched his fists.

"I want to thank you. I would be dead a hundred times over without your protection"

"I am with my entire existence of my soul and spirit grateful" Watanuki dropped to his knees and bowed his entire body to the ground. He was raised gently by strong hands.

"My dear Kimihiro, there is no need. I have not requested anything but bentos. That's more than enough" Doumeki said gently.

"Baka" Watanuki whispered gently, only Doumeki would be able to pull that off so skillfully.

"We're even Kimihiro" Doumeki said as he brought Watanuki close to him.

There were warm lips on Kimihiro, they filled him with a rush of adrenaline that he gladly lost himself in. He opened his eyes to see Doumeki staring back at him. Doumeki closed his dark eyes as he poured his self into the kiss and Watanuki did the same.