A/N: It was inevitable that I write for this fandom. ZareEraz here! I've been a xxxHolic fan for a couple years now, and only just decided to write my own fanfiction for it. I'm warning all you readers that I'm one of those writers who adores to genderbend characters, just take a peek at the Tiger & Bunny fandom I submit too! Anyway, this is my first fic for this ship so be nice! Enjoy and don't forget to comment!

Disclaimer: I do not own CLAMP, they own me!

Chapter One: Falling Asleep

Kimihiro Watanuki woke up that day with a black pork bun smothering her. Throwing the offending, wailing Mokona off her face, she gasped for air and began her day with the loudest rant ever on be courteous to people when their sleeping and not killing them!

"I mean, honestly, can't you go find your own pillow to sleep on instead of using my face?" She screamed at the black furball.

"Mokona was bored of his pillow! Watanuki is so much better!" Mokona rolled around the floor while the blackhaird girl tried to catch him. She tripped over her own feet, her vision blurry and decided that glasses might be a good thing to wear while chasing a black thing in the dark.

"So muchbe~tter!" Maru and Moro repeated as they pranced into the room and merry-go-rounded the black haired girl as she ran. "Bett~er! Bett~er!"

"Everyone get out!" Watanuki's scream was loud enough to push the troublesome trio out the door and wake Yuko who was sleeping at the other end of the shop.

"Watanuki! Stop that racket this early in the morning!" The witch's shout shook the walls.

"It's not my fault!"

"Even if it's not your fault keep it down! I have a headache!" Yuko's scream turned into a moan before she even finished.

"Well, that's what to get for drinking eleven bottles of sake behind my back yesterday! I warned you!" Grabbing her glasses and fresh school uniform she'd packed yesterday when Yuko asked her to stay over and make breakfast, Watanuki went into the bathroom to change, shutting the twins and Mokona out with a bang when they tried to follow.

"Awwww!~" Maru and Moro whined.

"Watanuki! Mokona is hungry! Make me food!" The black furball bounced, his feet making a popping noise.

"Let me get dressed first! Geez! I can't make food half naked!" The girl took care of morning duties and threw her sleeping yukata on the floor. She yanked her skirt on over her slim hips and next came her white shirt, sliding comfortably over her petite breasts, before sitting on the toilet and pulling her socks on. She didn't know how the witch did it, but suddenly Yuko was at the bathroom door, having rolled her hungover ass out of bed and to the other side of the house in no time at all.

"I know who'd like their food prepared by a half named chef…" She started mysteriously through the door.

Who…? Watanuki mused while pulling her messy black hair into a high pony tail and tying it off with a midnight blue ribbon that brought luck. A present from Yuko on her last birthday. Only she had to make a six course meal for the celebration as compensation.

"Doumeki!" Yuko crooned. That did it. Watanuki slammed the door open, face red, teeth sharp and cross popping veins showing red on her forehead.

"IF I EVER MAKE HALF NAKED FOOD IT WOULD NOT BE FOR THAT SELFISH, JERKASS BASTARD!" Smoke puffed from her nose like an angry bull as she panted with exertion.

"Ooo! Someone's angry!" Yuko purred from behind a wall.

"Yeah! Angry~!" Maru giggled.

"Angry~!" Moro seconded.

"Watanuki's sh~aking!" They cried in unison, clapping hands and running to hide behind Yuko.

"Scary!" The witch crooned. "Then who would you make half naked food for?" She asked mysteriously. She already knew the answer, but she wanted to tease her little worker a bit more. Of course Watanuki rose to the bait.

"WARI-KUN~ OF COURSE!" The flexible girl wriggled around, an ecstatic look on her face while she sang her crush's cuteness to the heavens. "He's so handsome and sweet~! I'd love to make food for him every day!~"

"But you do…" Yuko started, but she let it be while Watanuki was in his own sunshine world.

"But that's only if I ever cooked food half naked! That's unsanitary!" The girl huffed and walked out of the bathroom to go make breakfast for four ungrateful people and bentos for one perfectly perfect man and another man whom she despised.

As she was toeing on her shoes in the entrance, Yuko watched the girl with hooded eyes. She was wearing an elaborate kimono in red and purple, moons and stars embroidered across the fabric in silver with petals accompanying them. Her hair was looped up in a huge bun with her bangs hanging down in long ribbons, and she played with one as she watched.

"You should wait for Doumeki at the temple. Walk to school with him." The witch cautioned. Not only would it be safer for the foreboding feeling the witch felt, but Yuko loved the entertainment as Doumeki got on Watanuki's nerves. Of course, she had seen the lingering looks from the boy, the complete devotion to the girl's safety was more that friendship and the soft smiles Doumeki reserved for Watanuki, but only when her back was turned. Of course, it was all lost on the seer and she just treated Doumeki like she always did: railing at him but then making him lunch every day and the boy didn't seem to mind in the least.

"I don't need a keeper! Especially if it's that guy!" She fumed, the warning lost on her rage. "I am perfectly capable of walking to school myself!" She stood up quickly and made to leave.

"Wait for Doumeki." Was shouted after her, but Watanuki ignored it. She stomped to school lost in her own world. When she came to the first crossroads her pencil pouch fell out of her unclasped bag and scattered all over the street.

"Damn!" The bespeckled girl cursed as she set down the bentos and made to pick up her things. "I was in such hurry that I didn't make sure everything was secure!" As she picked up the pouch's scattered contents, the girl didn't notice a shadowed man approaching from the right, a top hat on his head and an umbrella on his arm, unusual for such a sunny day. The man had walked past before Watanuki looked up and continued on her way, her pencil pouch now clasped in her bag. The next block flew by as she continued to speed walk to school, determined to pass the temple before her rival came out. At that next crossroads, Watanuki stepped on her own shoe lace and nearly fell on her face in the process.

"WHAA!" She caught herself and then cursed her rush once again, retying her shoe quickly. She didn't notice the shadowed man looking at her as he passed her by, his black eyes trained on her downturned face. He was gone when the girl looked up. "What is wrong with me today? I swear I was put together when I left Yuko-san's shop!" She walked on, oblivious to the reoccurring spirit. Then the temple came into view and Watanuki bristled like a hissing cat. I do not need his help with anything! Why does Yuko-san always insist that I walk with that stone-faced bastard? All he does is piss me off every time I see is stoic face! She stormed past the temple's gate in a quiet rage, trying not to alert her rival to her presence. She sighed in relief when no one followed her and said "Oi," just to tick her off. I'm home free! She nearly skipped in delight, but reined it in so she could be sneaky. She came to the next crossroads beaming until there were footsteps behind her.

"Oi." She snapped as Doumeki's monotone voice sounded behind her.

"I have a name and it's not 'oi!'" She screeched, whipping around. The boy's hands were glued to the side of his head as he tipped away from the screaming girl, his briefcase slung on one arm. "And what are you doing here so early? Don't you have chores to do?" Her voice got louder as her annoyance at being caught escalated.

"I got a note from that person earlier this morning." He droned, wiping Watanuki's spit off his summer uniform.

"AND?" The girl pressured, irritated that he didn't go on and explain himself. A shadow passed behind the girl, invisible to both teens as he smirked cruelly and tipped his hat at his next victim.

"Did you bring salmon rolls?" That did it.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK I AM? A CATERING SERVICE?!" Doumeki's hands were up again as he plugged his ears to the screaming girl. "HERE!" She shoved the wrapped bentos into his hands and sped walked away.

"Don't be so melodramatic." He called after the fuming Watanuki, juggling the bentos with ease. Doumeki really thought she was cute like this: angry, her face all red. She was always just so open with her emotions; it was a nice change from his subdued personality. If only she wasn't so open about her crush on Wari-kun. The brunette's eyes narrow the slightest millimeter as the thought of the curly hair boy, so nice and sweet and who had monopoly on Watanuki's every pleasant emotion. He shook his head. Go back to the red face. The thought of the seer red in the face from something far more erotic and enticing than anger almost had the boy blushing, since it was him who was causing that blush in his day dream. She really needs to calm down. Yuko-san just asked me to walk her to school. What's the big deal? Doumeki followed behind his secret crush as she ranted and waved her arms in the air like noodles. Everything was normal until Watanuki stepped into the intersection of two streets and suddenly froze. Doumeki caught up to her easily, concern almost reaching his face as he saw sweat on her brow and her eyes wide in fear.

"Oi…Oi!" He touched the seer softly, trying to get her attention, but that only caused her to shiver, panic in her every quake. A shadow passed over the pair.

"It's him…shit." She whispered, her voice barely audible and trembling.

"Who?" But obviously the girl wasn't sharing anymore than that and Doumeki had to resort to using their shared eye to see what the hell was going on. He covered his left eye with his hand and looked where Watanuki was looking. There was a gray man in front of them, holding his umbrella over Watanuki and Doumeki, a hungry smile on his face. Instantly Doumeki's defenses were up, a feeling of dread settling over him and he tried to yank the girl away from the spirit. Only she wouldn't move. "Watanuki!" He kept pulling on her hand and then her entire arm but she was glued to the spot as the spirit reached out towards her. "Watanuki, wake up! We need to go!" His voice was desperate, a piece of him that rarely spoke, as he tried to move the girl. Then the gray man's fingers touched Watanuki's chest and the coldness radiated out, touching even Doumeki. And then the spirit wailed, drawing his hand back like he'd been bitten, the archer's presence pushing him away. He growled at Doumeki, black eyes boring into brown, and then smiled, holding out his hand. Inside it was a shimmering, silver shape, a bird that was flapping its wings, terror written all over its body.

What is…?

Mine. The gray lips mouthed, the sound of the word lost to the archer. And then his was gone, disappearing the taking the darkness with him. Watanuki collapsed with a gasp and Doumeki's hand shot out to catch her by the collar. She was unconscious, but still breathing, thankfully. He picked the girl up gently, his heart racing and for once he was glad she couldn't see him in this state because it would probably cause her to faint dead away again in shock. Doumeki knew that his eyes were wide his breath was heavy and he had an unexplainable fear painted all over his face. Definitely not the Doumeki that Watanuki was used to seeing. The archer cradled the seer to his chest, arms under her knees and shoulders and somehow managed to hold onto both of their school bags, the bentos and the girl. Her breaths were labored against his shirt, puffing out irregularly and harsh. Doumeki only knew of one person who could explain everything and help Watanuki. Yuko. He ran.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Watanuki was lying on a futon Yuko brought out, her breathing still heavy and she was covered in sweat. Doumeki was sitting next to her, putting on his best stone-faced worry look. Yuko was touching her employee's cheek and holding her hand, like she was trying to read her.

"You met the man at the crossroads, correct?" She asked, her red eyes hooded under her elaborately pinned up hair. Today she wore a red frilly tank top and skin tight, black leather pants with a matching necklace and bracelets.

"If that's the gray man with the umbrella…yes." Doumeki tried to keep his focus on Yuko but his eyes kept drifting to Watanuki, unconscious and helpless on the floor.

"She'd lost some very important things, so you'll need to be understanding when she wakes up." Yuko let go of her assistant and sat back on her heels.

"So, she'll wake up?" That's a relief.

"What you two encountered is a spirit that Watanuki has met before. Remember the night we told ghost stories at your temple?" Yuko asked smoothly, twirling her long bangs around her finger. Doumeki nodded. "It's the same spirit in the story she told us, the one that if she had met him four times, she wouldn't be alive today. Apparently she didn't heed my warning and walked without you."

"But I caught up to her."

"Yes, but she had already met the spirit multiple times and at the fourth crossroads, he tried to take her soul. The only thing that stood in his way was you, Doumeki."

"Me?"

"Yes, you were touching Watanuki, weren't you?" Yuko's eyes narrowed lasciviously .

"Yes, her arm." Doumeki pushed out Yuko's pervert with his monotone answer.

"Then the spirit only managed to take a part of her soul and escape. So…" The witch looked down at the sleeping girl, "She lives, but not for too long. Once a part of a person's soul has been taken, what's left cannot function forever. Watanuki is not only missing important pieces of her memory, but she won't last long at this rate. See? She'd already losing her color." Doumeki looked at the hand Yuko was pointing too; the nails and fingers were duller than the rest of her skin -gray and ethereal- like she was fading away. Panic clawed at Doumeki's chest, the boy's breath grew silently shallow. She's going to die? Because I wasn't fast enough? Because I wasn't persistent that she walk with me? The guilt of those thoughts crushed the brunette like a boulder, his inadequacy to protect the girl he loved almost too much to bear. "I say you have three days to retrieve the piece of missing soul. The spirit won't devour it right away because he is missing the rest," the woman's voice became ominous and creepy, "and why settle for one side dish when one can have a feast?" The implications were horrific.

"So he'll come for her?"

"Yes, but you need to find him before that happens. If he finds her first, you'll be too late."

"How do I do that?" Doumeki was desperate on the inside, the need to save Watanuki overwhelming, but he kept it off his face.

"Both of you will have to do it, it's her soul after all. But there is a price that must be paid for my help."

"There's always a price."

"Yes, balance is essential. I will help, but I need a day to prepare so you'll have to keep my Watanuki company until then, alright?" Yuko's mood instantly shifted from mysterious to flirtatious in a split second. "Just be gently with her, okay stud?" She winked and smiled mischeviously. Doumeki just stared at her, hiding his emotions inside at the lewd joke. "Oh, you're not fun! Watanuki would've been blushing and screaming by now!" Then Yuko got up and pulled open a dresser drawer and held up a white yukata embroidered with blue wings. "Now will you help me?"

"With what?" Doumeki was confused.

"Changing her, of course! You can't expect me to leave my Watanuki in spirit touched clothes on a futon with the day being this hot!" And then the boy internally blanched with just the mention of Watanuki out of her clothes. I sweat, Yuko's just playing around with me.

"You may be right on that account, but still, can you hold her up for me? Even in her sleep, Watanuki like's a fish." Doumeki gently picked up the black haired girl and set her against his chest so her head was cradled by his neck and her butt on his thighs. Yuko then proceeded to strip the girl out of her school uniform and Doumeki looked away with the slightly blush on his face. Maybe.

"Oh, you can look! I won't tell her!" Yuko giggled and threw Watanuki's skirt into the corner with the rest her clothes. Doumeki took the quickest glance known to man and saw creamy skin over slim hips and very cute lace underwear. That was all he allowed himself to see as the two of them juggled the unconscious body between them so the yukata's sash could be tied and the girl put back in bed. Yuko got up to leave, but Doumeki stayed where he was. "Are you going to sit by her side?" The boy nodded. The witch nodded back and left the room.

Doumeki looked down at the sleep girl again, his gaze shifting from her face to her graying hands. The gray man's face popped into his mind, the wicked smile, the fluttering, silver bird that had to be part of Watanuki's soul, the girl collapsing like she was dead seconds later. Doumeki's hand reached out and lingered over the girl's fingers, hesitating. Then he took her hand, like he should've done when she was at the temple's gates, when she was at the crossroads and squeezed it tightly.

"I'm sorry." He whispered brokenheartedly. "I'm going to fix this. I'm not going to lose you now." Watanuki sighed in her sleep, her breath calming as if Doumeki's presence soothed her. The boy smiled warmly and placed both of his hands and one of hers in his lap to wait for her to wake up. Watanuki's head tilted towards him and she slept on cutely.

"Now if only she'd do that when she was awake." Yuko sighed from the doorway. Done spying, she slipped into the shadows to make her preparations.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Watanuki woke up from her horrible dream and realized that her arm was asleep. She rolled her head to the side and looked at the cute boy holding her hand, but she didn't remember him. Well, not exactly didn't remember him, but she couldn't place that sleeping face. He's important to me, but why? And how did he fall asleep kneeling like that? She gently pulled her numb arm towards her and shook out the pins and needles quietly before looking at the boy again. His hands were not limp in his lap and her head was tipped down to his chest, his brown hair falling in his eyes. He's handsome. A strong face, but gently fingers and he's buff. The girl shook her head, a feeling of annoyance welling up inside her along with attraction. Why the hell am I thinking of him that way, that jerk? Why did I call him a jerk? He's obviously been waiting for me to wake up, and that's nice, but why does it make me mad? Can't I sleep by myself?

Then her horrible dream reawakened in her mind. The darkness, the emptiness, the fluttering of her heart. She was alone in the black, a slippery voice taunting her with words she couldn't understand. The only thing that comforted her in that void was the brown and white hawk that sat on her head. The hawk kept pecking at her hair and her shoulder would've been a better place to sit – it was so annoying that way the hawk hung around her! – but its presence was greatly appreciated as the hawk screeched at any of the weird spirits that approached the pair. The situation was oddly familiar. But no matter how hard the hawk tried to protect her, it couldn't keep one spirit away, a gray man with a top hat and umbrella. He kept getting close to her and touched her shoulder, face, chest and then dancing away as the hawk snapped at him, trailing silver smoke behind him that twittered like birds. Just when she couldn't take his teasing and cruel smile anymore, she woke up.

Now Watanuki was left feeling alone without her hawk, but this boy gave off the same presence he did. And he was such a cute sleeper! Watanuki sat up slowly, both her hands feeling numb and ducked under the boy's head to see his face. It was so soft, but his eyebrows were pinched in frustration and she reached up to gently smooth the wrinkles away. He relaxed and the girl swapped places with him, softly and carefully laying the sleeping boy down on the futon and covering him over without waking him and sat by his side for a minute. She stroked the fabric of her yukata and tried to place the boy's name. He was important, she knew that, she just didn't know why. She also didn't know where the hell she was as she looked around the Japanese style room. Moonlight filtered in through the sliding doors and Watanuki walked over and opened them. Stepping out onto the porch, she sat down and swung her legs back and forth under the stars, trying to remember why she was here, where here was and what happened to her. She didn't know how long she'd been sitting there when there was a voice behind her.

"Watanuki." Doumeki had woken up on the futon, lying down and covered with the blanket. He looked up and seen his friend sitting on the porch, the moon lighting up her hair and white skin. She glowed, like some celestial maiden. He sat up as she turned and he saw that the blue in her eyes was duller, her skin grayer than before.

"Yes, that's my name. Will you tell me yours?" She said it so gently, but it broke a piece of Doumeki's heart so find out that she didn't remember him. "I know I know you, but I can't place you so, please: what is your name?" At least she remembers something.

"Doumeki. Shizuka Doumeki." He stated, standing up and walking over to her. She was looking up at him now, the height difference evident as he stood over her. Doumeki thought there was nothing in the world that sounded so good than to hear Watanuki say his first name. "You're face irritates me." And just like that, she shattered the nice mood. "But then again, it doesn't. I don't understand it."

"Thanks, I guess." Doumeki took a seat next to her.

"I'm Kimihiro Watanuki, but you already seem to know that." The girl looked at her companion, and tried not to stare. He seemed so stone-faced, but really she could read the emotions underneath the hard exterior. He was scared for some reason and irritated but he hid it well.

"Kimihiro Watanuki." He repeated, not looking at her. The bespeckled girl was glad, because she started blushing as he said her first name, his voice so smooth and perfect as he spoke. Doumeki noticed the blush and was secretly pleased.

"Can you tell me why I don't remember much?" If there was anyone to ask, it should be him, the girl thought.

"You were in an accident and part of your soul is missing. But we're going to get it back."

"My soul? Who's this 'we're?'" She asked.

"I'm a part of this too." A silky voice interrupted. Yuko stepped out from the shadows in a gorgeous butterfly kimono and her hair loose. Watanuki recoiled as if she'd been bitten.

"You! Why do I feel like you're going to do something horrible to me?!" She wailed and Doumeki hid his smile.

"You ungrateful girl! That's no way to speak to your employer!" Yuko shouted throwing a slipper at Watanuki and hitting her square in the face.

"Employer?" She asked, hiding behind Doumeki before anymore objects assaulted her. The boy did have to admit that her hands on his shoulders was a welcome surprise.

"Yes. I am Yuko Ichihara, the owner of the shop we're in."

"This is a shop? What do you sell?"

"Wishes. I grant anyone's desire if it's in my power to do so."

"Yeah, that sounds familiar." Watanuki replied, a light bulb turning on in her head.

"Good, you still retain some memories."

"So I've lost memories? Why?" Yuko sat down, puffing pipe smoke into the air as she held the pipe delicately in her hand. Watanuki peeked out from behind her shield to stare at the beautiful woman. She's familiar too. But I feel like she's going to hand me something dead, throw a pile of work on me or try to molest me just for fun. The girl shivered at the thought.

"You had a nasty run in with a spirit and he managed to steal part of your soul, including your memories. You're just luck Doumeki was there to save you, otherwise you'd be dead." The woman explained, taking a drag from her pipe. Watanuki looked up at Doumeki and he looked down at her. She blushed and looked away.

"Thank you." It slipped out before she could stop it, feeling like she usually kept that phrase locked away when it came to the boy. Doumeki on the other hand, was secretly pleased by her thanks.

"Good. Now that that's out of the way, we can begin planning." Yuko leaned forward, her kimono falling open and nearly revealing her breasts.

"Planning? Planning what?" Watanuki asked, sliding behind as she was sure the witch was going to make this as hard as possible.

"To get back your soul. Of course, it's going to cost you, Watanuki."

"There's always a price." She replied, fully expecting the woman to ask for compensation. "Balance in the world is necessary, right? Equivalent exchange and all that."

"I'm glad you remember that too." More smoke drifted into the night air. "Now…let's get started.

A/N: That's all for now! Hope you like! Don't forget to comment or else I'll have to have Yuko do something horrible to you in your sleep! =^.^=