So, I'm going to continue. These chapters will be varied in length and such.

Disclaimer: I do not own Holic. All I own is the storyline and my character Hecate


Chapter 1: Part-Timer

It was midnight. I should have been asleep. I even felt tired. But I couldn't get my mind to settle no matter what I tried. I pulled on my sneakers, grabbed my keys and phone, and went outside. It had been a week since I'd seen the shop. I began to walk down the small path that lead to the main campus area. I wonder…

On the left, a familiar fence started to appear. I started to run, wanting to get to the gate as fast as possible. I skidded to a stop as soon as I saw the shop again, panting a bit from exertion. Oh! I'm so glad I got to see it again before I leave for the summer. I walked into the front yard. I hadn't actually entered the shop yet, so I could feel myself shaking a bit from nervousness. I hesitated as I reached towards the bronze door handles. Maybe I won't be able to come in since I won't be having a wish granted? I pulled the handles and the doors opened smoothly and soundlessly.

"Hello?" I called shyly.

"So you found your way back." I heard Kimihiro say as he appeared from around the corner. Today he was dressed in a dark purple- almost black- traditional Chinese outfit with bronze-colored designs.

"Umm… I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd wander around campus a bit…"

"At midnight?" he asked, amused.

"My campus is pretty safe actually." I retorted. "May I come in?"

"Of course." I replied before turning and walking deeper into the shop. I took off my shoes and followed, the floorboards cool under my feet.

"How old are you Hecate?" Kimihiro asked.

"18."

"How long have you known about the shop?"

"About… 7 years I think." I replied as he led me to a Japanese-style sitting. "But I wonder… why am I able to come into the shop now, after so many years?"

"It may be that you need to find it now." he replied simply before he disappeared into the kitchen. "Would you prefer tea or…?"

"Water's just fine." I stared out the partially opened screen door into the night. Kimihiro placed a glass of water next to me before sitting down across from me.

"So, what's troubling you?" he asked as he lit his pipe.

"Well…. I'm not sure really. I feel like I should do something for you."

"Why?" The sweet, bitter smoke began to slowly, lazily, curl around the room.

"I have no idea. But… you know a lot. And I really want to learn. But I don't want to be a bother either." I paused for a moment as I felt Kimihiro look calmly at me. That's when it came to me. "What if I worked for you!" I exclaimed suddenly. Kimihio gave me a confused look. "Before you inherited the shop, you were a pert-timer, right?"

"Yes." he said slowly.

"Well, it's summer vacation now. And I need a job anyway. So why don't I work for you? I can help clean, keep Mokona out of your hair…" He closed his eyes, thinking. I held my breath, shocked and what had just come out of my mouth as well as hoping he would agree.

"You will work in the shop. You will be partially compensated through monetary means. However, when you realize your true wish, your work for me will go towards the price of that wish. And when I grant your wish, you will not work for me any longer. Is that acceptable for you Miss Hecate?" he asked, using the Western way of addressing me.

"Of course!" I exclaimed in excitement. "I'll do my best! You won't regret it!" I calmed down a bit before standing up. "I should probably go back to my dorm and sleep." I said sheepishly.

"It IS 1 am."

"CRAP!" I began to rush out the door but spun on my heel, stopping myself a bit. "Ahhh… thank you."


Watanuki chuckled as Hecate rushed off. "I think she's almost as spazzy as I was before." the black Mokona, who had been hiding in the shadows, bounced over to its current master.

"Do you know her wish?" it asked. "And is it really all right for her to work here?"

"I'm not sure what her wish is. Though…. I don't think she's entirely human."

"Not human?"

"It's simply a hunch I have. Or she IS human but has strong powers. She lives in a different dimension then the dimension the shop is based in, yet she can enter like any other customer. I wonder… As for her working here, I checked. There will come the day when her wish will be granted. So, until then, she will work here." Watanuki smiled. "It'll be nice to have someone other than that jerk Domeki coming around all the time." The smoke from the shopkeeper's pipe was caught on a breeze and pulled outside before beginning to snake its way up to the waxing crescent moon.


So, history repeats ne? Tehe. I have NO idea how this will go, but it'll be fun to see! Preview time!

Fear. Compliance. Subjection. Things many growing children face. 'I don't want to rock the boat.' 'I will be punished by society if I do this differently.' Independence. Fearlessness. Callousness. "I wish I could be stronger." Next time on Holic: Web of Fate: Restriction. Shall I grant your wish?