REVIEWS:
Phomma-chan: Yes, I saw it a few months ago. I was in Japan to pick up my copy when it was released XD *nod* It was excellent! Very well handled :D If you're talking about the resolution of the 'case', yes it was surprising. The very end, though, was not.
That would depend on what sort of relationship you would see between them. There is no arguing that the bond between Watanuki and Yuuko is the main focus of xXxholic. But if you're asking if I believe WatanukixYuuko is more canon than DoumekixWatanuki (or WatanukixDoumeki XD), my answer is no. (In the manga there's significantly more innuendo for 104 XD) There is no doubt that Watanuki loves Yuuko - you don't give up that much for someone you don't love. But I don't see it as romantic love. Yuuko has brought so much change into Watanuki's life, helped him to see so many good things (including Doumeki XD), to discover who he is and to realize his strengths. And Yuuko has become his mentor, the closest thing to family he has. With Watanuki being who he is, it's not surprising he'd chose to wait so that he could see Yuuko again and grant her wish. Romantic love doesn't have to exist to explain his actions. But of course, this is all just my opinion XD
Alana-kittychan: Indeed XD
James: :D Groovy XD I haven't been told that before. Thank you very much :D
AN: Whee! And back to Doumeki. Though he isn't having much fun at the moment...
The Price
VI
He doesn't know how long it's been. Hours, days. It doesn't seem to matter.
Doumeki lost the fight to hold his head up long ago and now it lolls forward, his jaw punctured uncomfortably by the thorns.
It gives him a good view of the blood dripping away along the vines.
He hasn't thought of anything.
Salt.
He doesn't have any. And sweat and tears didn't work.
Water.
There's none he can see. Not even spitting had any effect except for drying his mouth further.
Sutras.
The whispered words had barely escaped his lips before the vines had tightened, stealing his breath with pain. And when he continued, it seemed to be a move of irritation rather than defence.
Trying it silently didn't work, either. The words tended to slip and fray apart, disappearing from his mind even as he grimly grasped at them and tried to pull them back.
Nothing he's tried has worked.
He's stuck here waiting for Watanuki.
Doumeki doesn't know if he's more angry at Watanuki or himself.
~x~X~x~
There are times when she comes back. To gloat or simply stare.
He must have passed out at some point because he wakes to find her holding his head up, fingers digging into his jaw as she stares into his face.
Doumeki tries to pull away, to jerk out of her grip. But her fingers only tighten, points of pain along his jaw. Even as the vines tighten their grip, thorns digging deeper for more blood.
The proximity makes his stomach roil. Aversion and nausea uniting in a sickening wave.
If keeping still wasn't such a good idea, he'd be tempted to throw up on her.
Except that his stomach is empty.
It occurs to him that he hasn't had dinner. And he doesn't know how long ago that was.
Watanuki is going to have something more to say than about his missing groceries. It would be amusing if the situation wasn't so desperate.
The old woman's mouth curves. "He knows."
Doumeki drags his eyes up to her face. There is satisfaction in her eyes, a dark glitter as she watches his face.
She lifts his head higher, baring his throat. The strength in her thin bony fingers makes his attempts to resist look weak.
He is weak.
"But maybe he needs more encouragement." One of her fingers strokes through the blood along his neck. She lowers his head again, letting their eyes lock.
Maybe she wants a reaction.
Doumeki just stares back. Going through the Watanuki crash course of the idiotic and weird means he knows how to annoy people by just doing nothing.
And it works with his captor if her narrowing eyes and tightening grip are any indication.
She suddenly lets go of his jaw.
Doumeki can't help the small breathless grunt that escapes his lips. But he has bigger problems than the thorns starting to dig into his throat and jaw.
She has a grip on the vines. He can feel it in the widening points of pain that are opening in his chest and arms.
"You might be worth more alive." It's a low hiss. "But it doesn't matter to me how long that lasts after I've traded you."
The pain is literally blinding. Even the vines white out of his vision.
Onibaba.
Demon hag.
Doumeki tries to breathe around the pain. Fitting name.
~x~X~x~
Don't piss off deranged supernatural beings, my dears ^^;;
Yes it was the Onibaba all along. I'm surprised no one guessed but there are an appalling number of supernatural hags in Japanese folklore. Now that you know, you could of course look her up. But *smiling evilly* while it will get you some answers, it won't get you all XDDD
For that you'll have to join me for the next chapter XD
~x~X~x~
