Chapter 3.

Watanuki sighed when he heard the final bell ring. School was over for the day and tomorrow was Sunday so there was no school then and he could sleep in. He took a step and groaned. I his sleep deprived state; he hadn't seen the ball coming and had been hit right above the knee.

He knew there was going to be a bruise there tomorrow. Ignoring the pain, he walked to the changing room to clean up and grab his things. On his way out, he saw Himawari-san leaning against the wall waiting for him. " HIMAWARI-SANNNN!" He cried joyously.

"Ah, Watanuki-kun, how are you?" she asked and smiled at him. 'Ahhhh, Himawari-san is so cute and nice.' he thought to himself.

He started to reply when he heard an unmistakable "Oi" from behind him. He ignored it.

"Oi." Doumeki called again.

"WHAT?" he screamed at him. Doumeki put his finger in his ear to block out the harsh sound.

"How is your leg?" he asked in a polite, bland voice.

Watanuki blinked for a moment. "Fine, why?"

"Just wondering. It looked like you were about to cry or something from the pain, but I guess not." He remarked in that monotone voice.

"WHY YOU…"

"Watanuki-kun, you were hurt today in P.E.?" she asked, concern in her voice though she didn't touch him. Her bad luck would probably cause even more pain to him, though they didn't talk about it.

"Himawari-san, I'm fine. Just a bruise. No need to worry." He assured her. They had reached his locker and he gathered the rest of his belongings.

"Oh, okay than I hope you feel better. I have to go, and help out my teacher so I'll see you Monday." She waved at them.

"BYE BYE HIMAWARI-SANNNN!" He called to her and waved. When she was out of sight he turned and glared at Doumeki. " WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?" he screamed at him.

"Nothing." He replied as he put the finger back in his ear.

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" WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME AGAIN?" Watanuki yelled at him. His fur standing on end like a cat. (This is a pun from the manga.)

"Yuuko-san told me to walk you to the shop and she asked me over there for sake."

He stomped into the shop and saw Yuuko seated at her table on the back porch with three bottles of sake on it, cups, and a pot of tea. One of the bottles was empty and she and Mokona were working on their second.

"Yuuko-san, why must you drink so much liquor everyday?" he demanded.

"Ahh, but Watanuki, what's more fun than drinking sake and tea with friends?" She asked in a slightly slurred voice as she downed more sake.

"Nothing, none f you are my friends." He retorted hotly. He jumped out of the way as Mokona jumped for him. He missed by an inch, bounced off the wall and struck Watanuki in the back of the head.

"But, I'm your friend Watanuki." he said happily and gave him a kiss on the face.

"Get off of me." He grabbed him and flung him at the table. He bounced off of it and landed on the table. Grabbing the sake bottle, he took a gulp of it.

"Watanukiiiiiii…" Yuuko asked, " Can you please make us some *Okonamiyaki and some yakimeshi* please?"

Growling, he stalked to the kitchen to prepare the dished grumbling something about the great Watanuki.

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He stood in the kitchen, washing the last dishes and reviewed the rest of the afternoon. Yuuko and Mokona had drunk three more bottles and had eat to large helpings of okonamiyaki and yakimeshi They were now asleep snoring in their beds. It had taken both Doumeki and himself to get Yuuko into her room. He had flung Mokona in there after her.

Doumeki was now on the front porch drinking some more of the tea he had drunk earlier. 'Why doesn't that idiot just go home. I don't need his help anymore and don't want him here.' he thought to himself angrily.

He had just put the last dish away when he heard Doumeki open the kitchen door behind him. " Oi, here's the pot and cups."

He turned to yell at him, but sighed. He was too tired to yell at him. "What ever, just set them over here." He replied and turned the faucet back on to clean them.

"Are you okay?" he asked as he set them on the counter and leaned against it with his arms crossed. " You seem kind of lagging today."

"I told you, I'm just tired. Now you can go home so I can finish everything up in peace." He snapped at him. He waited a few minutes, but when Doumeki didn't leave, he got annoyed. He looked up about to yell at him and stopped. He was staring at him.

Something lurked in his eyes. Some emotion in his other wise emotionless face that sent chills down his spine. It made his heart pound while goose flesh was raised on his arms. He blushed slightly, but said nothing. Finally Doumeki heaved himself off the counter and walked out the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

Watanuki sagged against the counter, shaken. 'What was that?' he asked himself. He shivered slightly as a cool draft blew across his sweat-dampened skin. Straightening, he finished the rest of the dishes in record time and rushed out of the kitchen.

It was too late to go to his apartment so he went to the room Yuuko let him use. Getting undressed, he took a quick cool shower to wash away the sweat and lingering feelings. Dressing into the light cotton-sleeping robe that was on a stool out side the bathroom, he crawled into bed and shut his eyes. Though sleep was a ways away and not restful.

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He ran down the road to some unknown destination. He heard pursuit behind him, but refused to look behind to see what it was. No matter how fast he ran, no ground was covered and the thing behind him steadily gained on him. He started to panic, but didn't cry out. It would only fuel the things desire to catch him and make it run faster.

Picking up his pace, he ran on. It was no use, it still gained on him. He knew it was only a few yards behind him. He heard it's rasping breath. Smelled it disgusting stench.

He felt its breath on the back of his neck. It was about to pounce. He heard its eerie howl and about to scream…

He woke up with a gasp. He was coated it sweat and gasping for breath. His blankets were kicked off and a gust of air made him shiver. Getting up, he wrapped his robe tighter around himself, he walked to the bathroom.

He washed his sweat-drenched face in cool water. It helped him wake up and shake off the nightmares grip on him. Walking to the back of the shop he stopped on the back porch. The wind blew through the trees bringing the scent of rain to come. He sighed, as the last of the nightmare faded from his mind.

"Watanuki, why are you up so late?" Yuuko-san asked him as she lounged against one of the poles.

"Bad dreams, woke up. I'm going back to sleep." He turned to walk back inside.

"You know Watanuki, bad dreams tend to be prophetic dreams. If you don't figure out what they are trying to tell you than they have a nasty tendency of becoming real. You better figure it out soon or you might loss yourself to the dreams prediction."

Shaken, he turned around to gape at her, but she was not there. He had disappeared while he was turned. Shaking away his apprehension, he walked back inside.

It took a few hours for him to fall asleep, but a least he slept dreamless.

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*Okonamiyaki- Japanese pancakes, Okonami means anything you want. It's like a snake or junk food and is really popular.

*yakimeshi- fried rice- usually filled with some vegetables and egg.

Yay, chapter three is done. I really like this one. So many hints and shadowed suggestions. What's going to happen next? Not really sure. I've got to think on it, but until then please enjoy. Please comment on my story and give any helpful advice if you have any to improve my story.