Lately, I haven't seen many xxxHolic fics so I decided to write one. I hope you like it~

Thanks a lot for your reviews! I treasure everyone of them, even if they are composed of single words. I love them.

This chapter is dedicated to Buzzbug82, Carnu and James Birdsong.

So, let's survive until June!

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Disclaimer: I don't own xxxHOLiC. If I did, I would publish it every week as a 60-paged manga.

Rating: Unknown, but T for safety.

Pairing: Doumeki x Watanuki (main), Yuuko x Watanuki, Himawari x Watanuki

Warning: Spoilers: Takes place from chapter 204, onwards. Flashbacks are under Italics.

Previous Chapter Summary: Doumeki encountered a person similar to Watanuki a week ago. He walked him to his apartment. Doumeki wonders about this "Watanuki"'s existence. When he entered the shop, Watanuki felt he was hiding something but decided to let it go. Doumeki tells Mokona about this "clone" and the black manjuu asks for more information about him.

II. Preferences

"I met him a week ago. When I was shopping for Watanuki."

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Watanuki complained about having stomach aches ('You and your stupid requests!'). He told me he wanted to make a salad.

"Here's the buying list. Remember, it must be a red-tip leaf lettuce. If you bring me another one, you'll have to go and change it."

Here I am, standing in from of the vegetable stands and seeing wood. A few hours ago, there had been a supermarket promotion in which all vegetables cost half their prices IF you had a coupon.

I couldn't find that lettuce anywhere. And I couldn't trick him. He knew more about food than what I did.

I tried searching for that lettuce and my hatred towards salads started to grow more and more. Why couldn't we have inari-sushi? I sighed. Finally, I found a single, withered red-tip leaf lettuce which lay untouched in the vegetable stand.

Mine.

I bent down and and attempted to grab it before anyone else could but I grabbed something else. What I felt weren't those wrinkled leaves and round form. I felt cold and soft slender hands. I realized that my hand was placed on top of another one, who presumably touched the lettuce first. No matter how much I wanted the lettuce, if that person touched it first, it was the correct action to let him have it. I could get another one in another supermarket.

The hand was drawn back. I straightened up and extended my arms to give him the lettuce.

But I dropped it.

Deep sapphire eyes with long eyelashes were staring at me. Said person had raven, straight hair with two strands of hair that refused to be combed and pale skin. He was tall, still shorter than me.

... Did Watanuki manage to leave the shop?

Wait. Didn't Watanuki have a golden eye that was originally mine? Also, this person looked slightly older and a bit unkempt, contrary to Watanuki who spent everyday taking care of his image and wearing expensive clothing. He was also a bit taller, perhaps 10 centimeters taller than Watanuki and wasn't wearing glasses.

What's going on... This person is too similar...

"What? What's going on?" he said.

His voice. It was identical to Watanuki's. Except that it was livelier.

I was still stunned and couldn't move. I couldn't help but stare at him.

"Sir, would you please help him?" an employee told me.

"It's ok, I can do it myself."

The Watanuki look-a-like bent down and tried to search for his lettuce.

"Aww... what a shame, it was my favorite kind... that idiot had to drop it. I'm sure he was also dropped at birth." He muttered.

So, he had his same tastes as well.

Although something was off.

He was touching the floor, searching for the lettuce which laid near him yet he couldn't reach it. Perhaps he was...

"Sir, please help him. He's blind." a random employee told me.

"I already said I'll do it myself. And stop calling me blind!"

I snapped from my confusion, bent down and picked up the vegetable.

"Here."

"Umm... Thanks?"

He looked like him, he spoke like him and had his same tastes though he looked slightly older and lacked my golden eye.

"I'll walk you home."

It was just an excuse to get near him and solve my doubts.

"Eh... What? No. If you want the stupid lettuce, you can keep it."

"But you're blind."

"I'm not blind! But I wish I were deaf so I could avoid hearing your annoying voice. Argh, I'm outta here."

He turned around and hit the wall. He massaged his nose and tried to exit the supermarket. Once again, he hit another wall, tried to massage his hurt nose again but he accidentally pushed over tuna cans and made a mess.

"I'll walk you home." I repeated once again.

"..."

I grabbed his hand and felt a warm sensation in my chest.

Said sensation lasted a few seconds.

"What the hell are you doing?!" He quickly detached his hand, slapping mine in the process.

"You're blind." I said with an obvious tone.

"I'm telling you I'm not blind! Geez, listen to me."

"Then why are-"

"I forgot my glasses, that's why!"

I didn't know whether to believe him or not. Perhaps I should since he was looking at my direction.

"Look," he said and tried to prove his point "I know that guy over there has a yellow sweater." He pointed at a random guy who had a yellow-

"Jacket." I corrected.

"Like I care! It's yellow, isn't it?"

"Yeah. But it's a jacket. A short one."

"I don't caaareeee!" He screamed. "The thing is I'm not blind. I can also see that you're a huge giraffe."

"No. I'm a human being." Before he could reply I added. "See? You're blind."

"I meant your height, you stupid. Your height! Also, if I was blind, how could I have distinguished that lettuce from the others?"

"Help."

"No, I didn't ask for help."

"What am I wearing?" I asked him.

"Umm..." he squeezed his eyes a bit.

"A black coat and black trousers."

"Wrong."

"Huh? B-"

"A black pinstriped pattern trenched coat, a gray white long sleeve shirt, black pinstriped pattern trousers, dark socks, leather black shoes and tartan boxers."

A vein popped on his forehead.

"You're blind." I told him.

"WAIT! How do you expect me to exactly describe your stupid outfit? Pinstriped pattern? How do you expect me to see those tiny lines without glasses? Also, tartan boxers? Are you stupid, they should be black!"

"Nobody can see my underwear, so why should it match?"

"Gh... Argh! You're annoying!"

"Red."

"What?"

"Red tartan boxers."

"That's even worse!!!" His scream should have been louder, yet I could barely hear him now. And then I realized that my hands had moved by themselves and my two index fingers covered my ears. "Thanks, I won't be able to sleep tonight!" he screamed once again.

I can't remember when was the last time I shielded my eardrums this way. Once again, I felt that weird sensation in my chest: Nostalgia.

"What! You can stop covering your ears, I've already stopped screaming!"

"You're still screaming."

"Shut up! You know, you're wasting my time." He left the supermarket.

This person was strangely too similar to the Watanuki I met in high school. I doubted he could be just a look-a-like or a perfect coincidence. He reminded me of Watanuki both physically and emotionally.

"Wait!"

I ran after him.

"What's your name?"

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"Did he tell you?" Mokona asked. The black thing was worried. I thought he would love news of this sort.

"Of course not. He said he wouldn't give his name to a retarded jerk who wore red tartan boxers under a black coat."

"He really is Watanuki" Mokona drank and giggled. "Wata-Wata-uki-nuki-nu!" He sang.

"He refused my offer of walking him home and took a bus before I could catch him. He tripped over and hit his head near the door, of course."

"Wata-nuki-nuki is clumsy but he's very independent. Ah! But Mokona recalls he never forgot his glasses! He sometimes slept with them and bent them!"

"I know. It's weird."

"But, you know it could be that he's go- Shh! Watanuki-puki has awoken!"

The shoji screen opened and revealed Watanuki's slender figure. He was wearing Yuuko's white yukata which fitted him loosely. He looked tired.

"Are you going to stay the night?"

"Yeah."

"The bath is free. You can use it. Clean it afterward."

"Thanks."

"Oh... and about what we talked before I went to take a nap..."

I remained silent. I could only see his backside.

"Just forget about it. You have rights to keep secrets from me- I mean, everyone. Every human being is allowed to keep some things for themselves. I don't know what got into me. I'm sorry."

He walked away.

l

It wasn't a coincidence the fact that we both met once again. Not because of Yuuko's words. This second meeting took place because I came back to the same supermarket everyday and asked the employees about the 'blind guy'. I had to convince them that I wasn't a stalker and that I urgently needed to talk to him.

There he was, wearing a dark brown jacket and a long, light blue scarf. And no glasses. I didn't know how to approach him without scaring him. I only wanted to know his name... and his entire life.

"Huh? What are you doing here!?" He stopped pushing his trolley.

"Shopping." I stated the obvious. I noticed the guy carried some bags. "Ecological bags?"

"Yes. They're giving them for free outside. You should go and get one." Seeing my reaction, which was basically none, he insisted. "I repeat, they are giving out free eco bags. Outside. Now, go."

Nice try. I won't let you escape. I need to solve this doubt.

"I already did my shopping."

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to meet you."

He was taken aback by my straightforwardness. I have mastered the knowledge of dealing with Watanuki after years and years of failures and successes. This knowledge could also be applied to this strange look-a-like.

"... What?"

"I need to talk to you."

"... What if I say 'no'?" He was annoyed.

"Won't accept it."

Watanuki swallowed his reply and decided to ignore me. He looked at his buying list, and went towards the Diary Section. I followed him. He pretended I was not there and tried his best to do his weekly shopping as he usually did. It was interesting to see him doing it himself despite having no glasses. He sometimes stumbled a bit and chose a wrong product. The employees were kind and they helped him get what he needed. They also ignored me but I could feel their stares on me.

Watanuki joined the supermaket queue. I placed myself behind him.

"Alright, alright, ALRIGHT! You are driving me insane! What do you want?!"

"Talk."

"Ugh, NO! You creep me out! Go bother someone else."

'What might be interpreted as lucky event can also mean the misfortune of others'. It's ironic to recall that phrase Watanuki said to one of his first clients when the 'unfortunate' person was practically Watanuki's clone. I stared at the long queue with a satisfied smirk.

"Excuse me. Are you a stalker?" The guy tried to be cordial with me in a strange way.

"No. I just need to talk with you." I didn't want to give him the wrong impression so I avoided teasing him. For now.

"So... if I talk with you, would you leave me alone?!" He was exasperated.

"Probably."

"Whatever, the queue is long and I'm bored. So, what do you need to know?"

"Name."

"Could you say at least 'What is your name'?!"

"What is your name."

My whole body tensed up, already anticipating the answer.

"Kimihiro Watanuki. There, happy?"

Never before had my body threatened to take away my self-control. A lot of emotions strengthened the already tied knot in my stomach. I wanted to embrace him, tell him how much I missed him and I wanted him to make fun of me for behaving and feeling this way.

"What? I don't have glasses but I can tell that you're making a weird face."

I kept on restraining myself and opted to respond as I would normally do.

"If you are not wearing your glasses, then how did you recognize me? I'm not wearing a coat."

"I don't know. I guess there's something strange about you. Like if you had a strange... aura or something. I don't know." I found him. This may prove this person is Watanuki. "Or maybe because you're a freak and everyone can sense freaks!" This definitely proves this person is him

I knew I shouldn't get excited. My mind told me I should find this whole situation bizarre and report it to the real Watanuki. Yet, my emotions threatened to betraye me at any second.

"More questions."

"Can I ask you one after you're done?" Why not?

"Sure. How old are you?"

"Hmm... 23 I think."

"Do you like to cook?"

"Umm... yes. A lot."

"Are you good at cleaning?"

"Yes- wait! Is this a survey?"

"For myself, yes."

"I'm not going to get tired of repeating this but you do really freak me out."

I know this kind of behavior would freak out everyone. At least I've found out that he's very similar to him. That's all I needed to know and tell Watanuki.

"Sir?" The cashier was irritated.

"Ah! I'm sorry" The guy who was also named 'Watanuki' paid the contents on his trolley.

It was already late. I should have arrived at the shop fifteen minutes ago.

"Thanks for answering." I was about to leave when the guy pulled me back.

"Wait, you ungrateful jerk! What about MY question?"

I forgot about that.

"And I want you to answer it truthfully and with lots of details."

"What is it?"

"Well..." he avoided my stare. "... do I know you?"

A/N:

Doumeki's POV is hard to write. Maybe it's because we are rarely shown what he's thinking?

And Rou's Watanuki is also hard to portray. Sometimes I feel like if I were writing about a Yuuko that tends to behave like Watanuki instead of the other way around.