CHAPTER SIX:
The following day was just about the same as the previous in terms of Shinyou and Shinrai's behavior; they continued avoiding the austere archer and the short-tempered seer like the plague.
Or at least that how it seemed at first.
In the middle of class, as Watanuki was getting a textbook out of his satchel, he noticed a folded-up piece of paper. He didn't remember putting anything like that in there…what could it be?
Curious, he unfolded it and began to read.
Dear Watanuki,
We're sorry we haven't been talking to you much. We're still trying to get familiar with the school and haven't had much time for fun.
But we have told a good friend of ours much about you, and how remarkable we think you are. Our friend, Fukinkou Akuyushi, is quite impressed with everything we've told him about you and would love to meet you.
Why don't you come to his house sometime? We drew a map on the back for you. And be sure to bring any special friends of yours; we're sure Fukinkou would like to meet them as well.
Take care!
Shinyou Dekinai and Shinrai Dekinai
They found him remarkable? At least that explained why they had such a strange fascination with him before. But their explanation as to why their fascination abruptly stopped seemed…a bit weak. Even though he didn't think the girls were spirits, he had a strong feeling that they were avoiding him because of Doumeki.
Watanuki put the note back in his satchel, feeling that the invitation was somehow suspicious. But still, he had his doubts. What if they were really quite harmless, and this Fukinkou fellow could be a pleasant new acquaintance?
Those doubts didn't last long, however. He still, in an odd way, agreed with Doumeki's skeptical feelings about them. He didn't know why, but he did. And didn't Yuko say that to agree with him on this matter was something exceedingly crucial?
Yuko. Yes…maybe he could show her the invitation and get her opinion. Would she find it suspicious as well?
"Fukinkou Akuyushi?" Yuko said as she read the note.
"Do…do you know him or something?" asked Watanuki.
"He came to the shop a few years ago," said Yuko, "he was an aspiring sorcerer…and likely still is."
"What was his wish?" Watanuki asked, intrigued.
"He wanted to be immortal," said Yuko as she put the note down, picked up her pipe and lit it.
"That's…a pretty big wish," said Watanuki as though stunned, "his payment was probably something outrageous…"
"His payment was his humanity," said Yuko, taking a blow of her pipe, "because for him to be human and immortal would have been an imbalance in the natural order of things. The things of this world are not supposed to last forever, and our time in it is no exception. Therefore…" she took another puff, "…he was made equal to things not of this world."
"So…can he see spirits like I can?" asked Watanuki. This was becoming rather fascinating.
"More than that actually," said Yuko, "spirits see him as one of their kind."
"And what about his magic?" asked Watanuki. "You said he's a sorcerer."
"Yes…a weak one," said Yuko, still smoking her pipe, "his weakness is the reason he wished for immortality. He underestimated the powers he was dabbling in, and it nearly destroyed him on several occasions."
"What about the girls?" said Watanuki. "Sounds like they're friends of his."
"You should be careful around them," said Yuko.
"That's what you said before!" Watanuki exclaimed in typical Watanuki-temper-tantrum fashion. "And Doumeki too! Seriously, what's the big deal about them?!"
"Didn't you say that you agreed with Doumeki when he said they weren't normal?" asked Yuko.
"Yes," said Watanuki, "I still do…sort of…"
Yuko was silent, smoking and contemplating the situation.
"Well, Watanuki," she began, "if you feel you must satisfy your curiosity about the girls and why they're not normal, you may go visit Fukinkou tonight."
"Really?" said Watanuki.
"I suppose I could just have you work longer tomorrow night to make up for it," said Yuko with a crafty smile.
Watanuki groaned furiously, clenching his fists. Why did she always do that?
"And I'd suggest you heed their advice and bring along a special friend," Yuko added, "I think I know just the one…"
Watanuki's face fell. "Ohh, you don't mean…!"
"I would rather take a bath in a tub full of sharks than wander around the woods with you!" Watanuki snarled at Doumeki as they walked through the dense forest where Fukinkou's mansion stood.
"Hush," said Doumeki, "It's dark and we need to concentrate on following the map."
"Grrr…why couldn't I have brought Himawari along instead?!" Watanuki moaned irately and woefully. Himawari never got to come along on such excursions; often it felt to Watanuki that Yuko was practically cramming the insufferable archer down his throat.
But there was a good reason, and he knew it: Doumeki's presence drove away the spirits, and if Watanuki were to get himself into any danger, Doumeki would surely save him. Watanuki petulantly pondered this as he walked alongside the archer, and somewhere deep down within he reluctantly admitted that with Doumeki nearby, he felt much more safe and secure strolling through the murky forest than he would have had he gone alone…or with Himawari for that matter…maybe.
"This looks like the place," said Doumeki. Watanuki looked and saw that they had reached a large, sumptuous house cloaked in a grove of ominous dead trees.
They walked up to the door and knocked, and Fukinkou swiftly answered.
"Why, Watanuki!" said Fukinkou cordially, bowing. "It is an honor! And who is this other fine fellow?"
"That…would be Doumeki," said Watanuki irritably, pointing at the archer.
"Well, hello to you as well, Doumeki," said Fukinkou, "I assume you are a friend of Watanuki's?"
"Maybe," Doumeki replied impassively.
"Don't you 'maybe' me!" Watanuki snapped. "Just because you're always coming along and helping me out doesn't make you my fri--"
"Oh, enough with the quarrelling, you two," said Fukinkou, "come in; we can talk further inside."
The three entered the mansion, Doumeki scrutinizing the sorcerer in much the same way he had Shinyou and Shinrai upon his first encounter with them. There, too, was something questionable about Fukinkou, though Doumeki felt it likely had more to do with Fukinkou's overly gracious demeanor than anything paranormal. The question was, did Watanuki share his feelings? Regardless, if Fukinkou did indeed have something vile up his sleeve, it was up to him to not let the tetchy seer be fooled.
"Master Fukinkou!" the voice of Shinyou called out.
"Watanuki and his friend are here, aren't they?" said the voice of Shinrai.
"They certainly are," said Fukinkou happily. He turned to Watanuki and Doumeki. "Shinyou and her sister Shinrai are assistants of mine. They've told me a lot of great things about you, Watanuki."
"What kind of great things?" asked Watanuki.
Fukinkou looked deep into the seer's eyes, still maintaining his agreeable expression. "That you could be of tremendous use to me."
Watanuki, however, did not perceive any sort of kindly feeling in those words, nor Fukinkou's visage when he said them. In fact, the sorcerer's face seemed to have morphed into a heartless, twisted smirk, and a smoggy, nauseating cloud had suddenly enveloped him. Watanuki had seen this sort of cloud before, and he knew from experience that it, like the spirits, was something only he could see…and smell for that matter. He clasped his hand over his nose and mouth, the stink making him sick to his stomach.
"Umm…excuse me, Fukinkou…" said Watanuki apprehensively, backing away, "I…I…kinda need to sit down…I don't feel good." He glanced around and noticed Fukinkou's posh chair nearby, but an actual place to sit down didn't matter to him…he just needed to away from that revolting smell. The chair would probably be good enough, however.
Doumeki, alarmed by Watanuki's sudden reaction, followed him over to the chair.
"What's wrong?" he asked the seer, who was sitting down and taking a deep, grateful breath of fresh air. "Are you seeing something?"
"Definitely," replied Watanuki, "Do you remember the collectors?" (1)
Doumeki nodded.
"It's the same thing," said Watanuki, "his face got really ugly and then there was this disgusting smoke all around him…when I saw that happen to those collectors, Yuko told me I was seeing greed."
Doumeki pondered this. So Watanuki did share his feelings…more than that perhaps, as he could actually see something amiss. Doumeki was about to say something else to Watanuki, but was interrupted by a displeased Fukinkou.
"What are you doing in my chair?" the sorcerer demanded.
"I told you," said Watanuki, "I needed to sit down for a minute."
"You could have sat elsewhere, you know," said Fukinkou.
"But this was the only chair I saw in this room," Watanuki explained.
Fukinkou sighed. "Enough," he said, "so…you weren't feeling well?"
Watanuki nervously nodded yes, hoping that would be enough and that Fukinkou would not ask him why he felt queasy.
"Well, I have a feeling it was all in your head," said Fukinkou with a smile. "Some more pleasant conversation might fix that, no?"
"What do you want from him?" asked Doumeki before Watanuki could answer.
Fukinkou turned to Doumeki, looking more concerned than he had been when he was talking to Watanuki.
"You know, my assistants have told me a good deal about you as well, Doumeki," he said, his eyes growing harsh. "You help him, protect him, do you not?"
Doumeki was stunned, wondering how exactly the girls knew this. "Yes," he replied, remaining as straight-faced as ever.
It was then that Watanuki, also quite astonished, saw that the dark cloud surrounding Fukinkou had suddenly returned in all its revolting glory. The stench overwhelming him again, he got up from the chair and left Fukinkou and Doumeki to their discussion. Fukinkou, pondering Doumeki's response, happened to glance out of the corner of his eye at his chair and noticed Watanuki's absence. He grinned and quietly laughed to himself fiendishly.
"Are you going to help him now?" Fukinkou asked.
"What are you talking about?" said Doumeki.
Fukinkou gave him a shifty smirk and pointed to the empty chair. Without delay, Doumeki left the sly sorcerer to find Watanuki.
"And where do you think you're going, Watanuki?" said Shinyou.
"Surely you're not leaving so soon," said Shinrai.
"Will you just get out of my way?" said Watanuki, frustrated. Shinyou and Shinrai wouldn't budge.
"Where's that friend of yours?" asked Shinyou slyly.
"Did he leave you?" added Shinrai.
"No," said the voice of Doumeki, who took Watanuki's arm and pulled him aside before the girls could do or say anything else.
"Doumeki, what are you doing?" asked Watanuki angrily. "You don't just come up from behind and grab someone like that!"
"Fukinkou and his helpers are bad news," said Doumeki without emotion, "I won't have you letting your guard down."
"Didn't I just say I can see something's up with that guy?!" Watanuki retorted.
"Then don't you think we should get out of here before things get bad?" asked Doumeki.
"What do you mean, bad?" said Fukinkou, appearing behind them unexpectedly. Watanuki and Doumeki turned around in surprise.
"N-N-Nothing," said Watanuki fearfully.
"Settle down," said Fukinkou, "you have nothing to worry about."
The cloud appeared again, this time bigger and even more foul-smelling than before; it almost seemed to Watanuki that it could soon fill up the entire room. Something was now undeniably dodgy about Fukinkou, just what Watanuki still didn't know. But one way or another, Doumeki was right: it would be best to get out as soon as possible.
"Y-Y-Y-Yeah…yeah…sure…" said Watanuki, hesitantly moving away from the sorcerer, "but…but…but we should probably be leaving now…"
"What's the rush?" asked Fukinkou. "I haven't even gotten the chance to show you around!"
"We're sorry," said Doumeki, following the seer.
"Come on, hurry," Watanuki muttered to Doumeki. They soon reached the door…but Shinyou and Shinrai blocked the way.
"You can't leave now," said Shinyou.
"Master's not done with you yet," said Shinrai.
Doumeki and Watanuki looked behind them to see Fukinkou closing his eyes tightly, evidently using his magic to make a glowing red and white ball of flame materialize in his fist. Then, grinning wickedly, he hurled the fireball at the archer and seer. The two of them quickly dodged it, causing it to hit a nearby vase instead.
"You were right all along, Doumeki!" Watanuki shrieked, pointing at the vase that the flame had now melted into a gelatinous soggy substance. "If we hang around this nutjob any longer we're done for!"
Doumeki took Watanuki by the hand and dashed up the stairs. "Come on," he said, "there might be another way out of here."
"Master! Master!" said Shinyou, pointing frantically.
"They're getting away!" said Shinrai.
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Fukinkou shouted, running up the stairs after them.
When Watanuki and Doumeki reached the top of the stairs, they found themselves confronted with several doors. Impulsively, Watanuki began hastily trying to open the first one he saw…but to no avail.
"Open it!" Doumeki demanded, looking behind to see Fukinkou gaining on them.
"That's what I'm trying to do, moron!" Watanuki barked. "It won't open!"
Doumeki pushed the frustrated seer away from the doorknob and tried opening the door on his own.
"What are you doing now?" asked Watanuki angrily.
Just as Fukinkou was about to reach the top of the stairs, Doumeki at last managed to open the door. "You weren't turning it hard enough," he said to Watanuki as they quickly entered the room.
"Are you trying to say I'm weak?!" Watanuki yelled.
"This is no time for arguing," said Doumeki, slamming the door behind them as hard as he could. Within seconds they could hear Fukinkou pounding on the door crazily.
"You're not getting away!" the sorcerer shouted. "I'll kick down this door if I have to!"
Watanuki fretfully glanced around the room, looking for some means of escape. He saw nothing. Fukinkou's pounding grew louder, and cold terror ran through Watanuki's bones.
"Great! Just great!" he said to Doumeki angrily and sarcastically. "We're trapped and it's all your fault!"
"You're the one who chose to open this door," said Doumeki.
Filled with panic and rage, Watanuki grabbed Doumeki's collar and shook him violently. "Fine then, smarty-pants!" he roared. "If you think you know everything then GET US OUT OF HERE!"
Doumeki yanked Watanuki's hands away and began thoroughly searching the room.
The pounding was now louder than ever, and was accompanied by the dreadful sound of the door beginning to break down.
"Hurry up!" Watanuki screamed. "Are you trying to get us killed?"
At last Doumeki noticed something. There was a small window on one side of the room, something Watanuki was perhaps too panicked to have noticed.
"Come over here," he said to Watanuki, grabbing him by the arm and leading him to the window.
"What is it with you and grabbing me?!" Watanuki said.
"This window," said Doumeki, pointing at it, "this is our escape."
Doumeki, gathering all his strength, forcefully unbolted the tight latch on the window. He then took Watanuki by the hand and got up on the windowsill, cautious of his footing. It was then that Watanuki remembered they were on the second story of the mansion…which meant…
"All right, on the count of three…" Doumeki began.
"You…you mean we're gonna jump down?!" Watanuki said, alarmed.
"Relax," said Doumeki, "I think I see a bush down there that could cushion our fall."
The loud kicks continued, and the awful creaking now sounded as though the door was going to give way at any second.
"A-A-Are you sure you don't see another way out?" Watanuki asked timorously.
"One…two…" said Doumeki, preparing to jump.
"Doumeki, I…I really don't thi--" Watanuki began.
Presently there was a violent crashing sound signifying Fukinkou's entry.
"…three!" Doumeki clutched Watanuki's hand tightly and jumped down, pulling the panicky seer down with him. Within seconds the two landed in a jumble of bushes, just as Doumeki had predicted. Unfortunately, the archer had failed to notice that it was a bunch of thorny bushes.
"Yeeeeeeeooooow!" Watanuki shrieked, leaping up out of the bushes in pain. Doumeki felt pain as well, but remained his usual unruffled self and crawled out carefully lest hastily emerging cause even more thorns to prick him.
"Nice going, Doumeki!" Watanuki yelled, irritably plucking thorns out his arms. "Now look what you've--ow!--done!"
"They're only small thorns," said Doumeki, also pulling a few out of his skin and hair. "We'd better get out of here before he finds us. Come on." He began to take off, motioning for Watanuki to follow him.
The two ran swiftly through the woods until at last Doumeki determined they were out of danger and could slow down. As Watanuki leaned against a tree to catch his breath, he caught sight of Doumeki standing behind him with his eyes on a particular spot…
"Hey! What's the big idea?!" Watanuki yelled. "This is no time to be staring at my butt, pervert!"
"You've got thorns in it," Doumeki said bluntly. "A lot of them."
Alarmed, Watanuki ran his hands over his rump and discovered (painfully) that Doumeki was correct.
"Ohh boy…"
(1) This is a reference to the movie.
A/N: Forgive me for taking so long to update; this chapter gave me a really hard time for some reason.
