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Chapter 7 – Secret Exit
Watanuki awoke feeling slightly better then he had the previous night. He looked beside him and saw the sleeping form of Doumeki. Watanuki smiled and lifted himself from the futon before standing up completely.
"I'll be back," he whispered to Doumeki's sleeping form. Watanuki grabbed some things from his school bag and hastily exited the room. After that, he slowly made his way out of the temple.
Doumeki opened his eyes and waited for his senses to return to him. The first thing that registered in his mind was that he was alone on the futon and Watanuki was nowhere in sight. The archer quickly sat up and threw the blankets off of him. He got up and rushed out of the room in the hopes finding the wandering boy.
The moment Doumeki entered the hall a sweet smell filled his nose and his stomach growled angrily. Doumeki put a hand on his grumbling stomach and sighed. He hadn't eaten since lunch the previous day and he was absolutely starving. Doumeki followed his nose and it wasn't surprising when he arrived in the kitchen and saw Watanuki in an apron.
"You're finally awake," Watanuki said without turning around.
"Hm," Doumeki replied.
"You sleep like the dead when you're tired," Watanuki added as he continued to cook.
"What are you making?" Doumeki asked.
"Pancakes."
"Hm."
An awkward silence once again filled the kitchen as Watanuki continued to cook. When he was done, Watanuki placed all the things needed on the table and they both sat down before they began to eat in silence. Watanuki watched as Doumeki ate.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Doumeki questioned. Watanuki had only taken a few bites out of his meal.
"Not hungry," was the answer received.
"You should eat. You have to keep up your strength if you want to fight off the curse," Doumeki said as he observed Watanuki's reactions to the statement. A small smile appeared on Watanuki's lips and Doumeki felt a foreboding feeling grasp at his heart. The cursed boy crossed his arms and leaned his head on the table.
"I'm not going to fight it," he said.
"Why?" Doumeki shouted.
"Because I don't feel like it. This secret is precious to me. I wish to keep it until I die. After I die, it won't matter who knows…" Watanuki answered. A hurt look crossed Doumeki's features and he stood up abruptly. He approached Watanuki's side and grabbed his collar before lifting him up from the chair with his superior strength. Watanuki winced in pain.
"You aren't going to die! You're not! Do you hear me? So don't resign yourself to a fate that has no chance of happening!" Doumeki yelled. Watanuki was surprised by the loss of control of his best friend and looked into Doumeki's gold coloured eyes.
"There's nothing you can do anymore," he whispered. Doumeki glared and raised his fist, fully prepared to hit Watanuki, but the other boy suddenly erupted into series of coughs. Doumeki released Watanuki and the boy crumbled to the ground while covering his mouth with his hand.
A red liquid dripped from Watanuki's hands and dripped onto the ground. Doumeki's eyes went wide. Watanuki's coughing fit finally came to an end and he removed his hands covering his mouth. They were covered in a red substance.
Blood.
"I'll go wash my hands," Watanuki whispered as he stood and headed for the kitchen sink, but Doumeki grabbed one of the blood stained hands and held him back.
"We're going to see Yuko!" Doumeki announced as he began to pull the other boy along, but Watanuki pulled his hand back from the archer's grasp.
"At least let me wash my hands," Watanuki complained as he turned back to the sink. When he finished cleaning, he turned to Doumeki and looked at the hand that had held his.
"You should wash your hands too," he said as he saw his blood on Doumeki's fingers. Doumeki sighed and did as he was told. When he was done, he turned around to show his clean hands to Watanuki, but what he saw was Watanuki holding a hand to his chest and trying to best to breathe. Doumeki rushed to Watanuki's side and wrapped his arms around him. Watanuki grabbed Doumeki's shirt and once again looked into his gold coloured eyes.
"Dou…me…ki…" Watanuki whispered before his hand fell limply to his side and he blacked out.
"Are you sure that you won't change your mind?" asked a soft voice. Watanuki smiled calmly.
"I'm positive Haruka-san," Watanuki responded as he looked to his left and saw the older man. Haruka gave him a worried look.
"We won't be able to talk anymore," he stated.
"I know that."
"I liked out conversations."
"Me too," Watanuki whispered.
"This might be the last time we see each other."
"I know."
"It's such a sad thought," Haruka said.
"It is."
Watanuki moaned in pain and slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Doumeki's head hovering over his own. Watanuki blushed and then tilted his head away from Doumeki's piercing gaze.
"You're finally awake," Doumeki stated.
"How long was I out?" Watanuki asked.
"About 8 hours. It's already night time," Doumeki responded. Watanuki took a deep breath and the coughed as the air aggravated hire sore throat. A cold cloth was placed on his forehead and Watanuki glanced at Doumeki, who was staring at him intently.
"Are you going to be alright by yourself for awhile?" Doumeki questioned. Watanuki slowly nodded his head and watched as Doumeki stood and quietly walked out of the room. He sensed Doumeki exit the temple and sighed tiredly. The feverish boy sat up and placed the cloth on the floor. He stood.
Watanuki grabbed his things and slowly made his way out of the shrine. Mugetsu came out of Watanuki's collar and yipped in worry. Watanuki glanced at the creature and smiled.
"Don't worry everything's going to be fine," Watanuki said. Mugetsu rubbed his furry head against Watanuki's cheek, saying that he would follow him for whatever the other boy decided. Watanuki glanced once more at the temple before he descended the stairs.
Doumeki ran as fast as he could, not bothering to apologize when he bumped into someone. It didn't take long before he found himself standing in front of the familiar shop that had began Watanuki's adventure. He walked through the gates and saw the two girls, Maru and Moro, waiting for him at the gate.
"Mistress is waiting for you," Moro said.
"She is waiting," Maru repeated.
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Ja ne
