Saeton: Ello all! Well, here's my second shot at a xxxHolic fanfic. You all seemed to enjoy Second Shadow, and now that's I've had a new name change I didn't know if anyone would remember me. xD I hope this one does even better, and it will be more centered around Doumeki as I wished the other one had. For all those that enjoy Yuuko in a story be warned, for if you read my other you know that she will not be playing a huge role in anything I do. Yes, she will appear, but don't think that she will be providing all the answers. This is a fic centered around the characters that are Doumeki and Watanuki.

Synopsis: Doumeki and Watanuki happen upon a wounded cat, and Doumeki decides to take it in. Unfortunately both he and Watanuki are ignorant of the demons true intentions really are. Upon seeing the attention that Watanuki is receiving from Doumeki it becomes jealous, and decided to trade places with Watanuki. Taking the young man's form and forcing Watanuki into his, he takes his place, and Watanuki is swept away by his old owner, a woman of the demonic realm who's animals lives don't last very long. Will Doumeki notice this switch, and will he be able to make it in time to save Watanuki?


Would he be forever trapped in the prison that this woman called "a home"?

In reality there is no such thing as freedom. Even a bird is caged in this reality that the one known as "god" created for it. No matter how one looks at the essence of creation no one is able to escape the shackles that force us to continue on our existence.

Even if said bird escaped and flies into the air toward a new destination, eventually there will be no ground to stand upon, and no sky to continue upwards.

He knew this well, and didn't question it. He would never know the precious words called "freedom". The words barely dared enter his mind anymore as he lie upon the cold earth, staring upwards at the roof of his cage.

And yet he longed for it. Desired to be able to run free, to do as he wished, spoke as he wished. To do things that he had never experienced before.

Another bump in the road. He had been feeling them more and more lately, these sudden jolts that forced him to sit up and take a curious look around. They had been traveling for so long he almost forgot where exactly he was, but these bumps brought him back once again to his horrific reality that he was still locked away within the carriage.

How long had he been there? Longer then he could remember, he knew that. He didn't know any other home except for the metal bars that surrounded him. Yes, every so often he was released, but the punishments that came with that were ones that he could live without. Oddly enough, although he despised the cage that held him, it was also his sanctuary.

Her filthy hands couldn't reach deep into his precious safe house.

Another bump. Clawed hands reached up and grabbed hold of the metal bars, gripping hard, teeth clenched. Where were they, and why was the trip so bumpy? He felt that at any moment he would do sliding out the back.

Funny how he thought that, for seconds later the cage was tipping ever so lightly, his body being the only thing keeping it from tipping backwards. Even as he clung to the front, gripping, crying out for some type of help that he knew he would not receive, he was falling.

Another bump and his home was hurled into the air. He didn't even have any time to register what had occurred before the cage slammed into the ground, rolling and spinning. Small cries were emitted as he felt his body hit into the metal, limbs that weren't broken before coming close to being so.

Finally it stopped, resting upon the hard earth, becoming silent. The only thing that moved was the door which flipped open, falling off its hinges and hitting the ground.

Even as he reached out, grabbing the edges with cold hands, pulling himself out, he could barely register what had occurred, or what position he was in. Emerald eyes watched the carriage continue on its way, ignorant that it's passenger had been tossed out the back like a garbage bag. He was fine with that though; he would much rather have it that way.

Freedom? Or at least as close to what he could call freedom? Was that finally in his grasp?

Freeing himself from the metal death trap he began walking, feet dragging across the dirt, unsure of his destination but determined to find it anyhow.

"And then you had to go off and say that to Sasame didn't you! Why would you do such a thing, now he's going to think-"

Doumeki barely listened to whatever the boy beside him was saying, instead focused on the road before him, mind wandering off to what he would be doing later that evening. He knew he had cleaning to do, his father had made that rather clear the night before, but he also knew that the chose wouldn't monopolize his entire night. He could rearrange his room again, it was becoming rather bland…

"Are you even listening to me? Argh, you are so infuriating!"

The larger of the two males give a sideways glance to his companion, eyeing him up and down. Although they had been hanging around each other for quite some time, being made to do odd tasks by the woman called "Yuuko", he never really conversed with the young male. He had seem him around, and honestly had become very interested in the boy who could see spirits, although he qould never say such a thing out loud. Not because of some silly reason as pride, merely because he didn't want to waste the words on something that should be known anyways. Although they never really spoke to one another on real matters, important ones at least, he did feel a sense of welcoming by the other male.

"Mm." He mumbled. Not a word really, merely a sound to say that he was , in fact, listening. He would ignore the fact that he actually wasn't.

This seemed to anger the glasses wearing boy even more, as he threw his hands up into the air and began screaming another tantrum. Something about his voice, or how he acted. He wasn't sure. Best not to dwell on such things anyhow.

Something caught his eye. His steps became quicker, and without realizing it Watanuki's must have as well, for they both reached the edge of the alley at the same time. Grabbing the wall and peeking in, Doumeki's eyes glanced back and forth, eager to find what had darted across the road and into the darkness.

The scent of garbage filled his senses and he made a small face, displeased that anyone could leave such bags just lying around. Didn't they have any sense of decency? His father would be up in arms about such actions.

"What are you doing? You're ignoring me again aren't you?"

Watanuki followed his lead, leaning into the alley, finally just stepping into the opening and taking a look around. He must have seen it too, but didn't voice it out load. Grabbing a trash lid he pulled it up, instantly gagging and tossing it back onto his bin. Shaking his head he turned to face the more stock of the two, crossing his arms.

"It was probably just an animal. Can we go?"

"Just a moment."

Taking a few steps forward he headed toward the back of the alley, meeting face to face with the wall. With his foot he pushed away another bin, ignoring its contents that seemed to move underfoot. He decided it was best not to even ask. Leaning down he began to dig with his hands, pushing away anything that got in his way.

And there is was, a small cat, thin and shaking, fragile to the touch, looking back up at him with large emerald eyes. Well, one eye to be precise, the other was shut, unable to open due to a thick layer of yellow crust. It let out a quiet mew, one leg pulled up into the air, the other trying to make up for it as it inched backwards against the wall. It didn't look as if it desired Doumeki's attention but he provided it anyways, reaching down and taking hold of the kitten in his grasp.

Watanuki stared at it, pushing his glasses up against his face with a finger, tiling his head.

"A cat… probably a stray." He mumbled, inspecting it up and down. "You don't know what it has. We should probably bring it to a vet, or maybe an animal shelter…"

Before he was able to finish Doumeki was already walking away, the small feline held firmly in his grasp, although it continued to try to free itself. Large hands wrapped themselves around it, one finger absentmindedly petting it's greasy blond fur.

Who knows, maybe his mother would enjoy it.

Excuses. That's all that it was. Even he knew that as he lay on his bed, the cat in the other corner of the mattress staring at him with its one large eye. He knew that neither one of his parents would be too appreciative of the small creature, his father being obviously allergic to any type of fur, and his mother way too busy to play with such an animal. For some reason though he felt he had to bring it home, had to pay some sort of attention to it.

The cat on the other hand thought differently as it attempted to look for any type of escape. It's displeasure of being stuck in the tall man's home was evident. It hissed at Doumeki, fur going up, a small growl tingling in the back of its throat.

Ignoring the cats minor threats Doumeki finally sat up in the bed, grabbing it by the scruff of its neck and making his way out the door. He had yet to tell either of his parents about the small yellow creature, but he figured once his father came home the sneezes would alert him to some sort of oddity. Until that time though Doumeki would do as he pleased.

Reaching the bathroom Doumeki put the cat down on the floor, heading over to the tub and turning on the faucet. He kept his hand under the water until he assumed it warm enough for the tiny beast before removing it and for some reason drying his hand on his jeans. Turning he picked up the cat, even as it tried to hide behind the toilet, and plopped it into the water.

Doumeki learned fast what happened when you threw an animal that doesn't appreciate water into said liquid.

After a few moments of fighting, some quiet curses from Doumeki and a few claw marks the cat finally calmed down, staring up at the dark haired figure, shaking. Whether it be from the chill of the air or from fear was unknown. Still though, Doumeki couldn't help feel a bit sorry for it. Sadly though it needed to be washed, at it smelled of old garbage and its fur had caked on mud and he didn't even want to know what else.

Feeling satisfied with its bathing, he stood, knee's soaked in the water that had splashed over the side of the tub, and grabbed a towel. Reaching back in he picked up the cat with both hands, holding it close to his chest.

Before long the shaking stopped, the animal curling into the shirt that Doumeki wore, closing its eyes. Releasing a sigh Doumeki rested back, hitting the wall behind him, and relaxed.

The cat leaned into the soft clothing that was this strange mans, eyes opening to stare upwards.

How had he ended up in this predicament? Oh yeah, he got lost in the accursed human world. But this didn't seem so bad. It wasn't anything he had expected, not at all, and this human seemed rather…

Kind?

He shook his head. He wouldn't think of such things, not yet. He wouldn't pre-judge. It could all be a trick after all. He would relax though, would allow himself to fall into a sleep as he felt no danger at that immediate moment. It would be a while before that wretched woman were to find him again anyhow.

A clawed hand reached up, brushing away a lock of hair that had fallen over the other man's face, fingers feeling its soft texture. Taking one long fingernail he ran it across his cheek, something within him desiring to shove it deep within the mans flesh, but instead he allowed his hand to fall to his sides.

He would rest for now.

Saeton: So yeah, short, but to the point. xD I hope you all enjoyed, and don't worry, so much more interaction with Watanuki and Doumeki in the next chapter. Tis awesome. We all love it and you know it. I just bought a whole bunch of Doujinshi too. Oo

Once again, Reviews are always loved.

Over and Out.