heavenlyHOLiC
Disclaimer: I don't own the xxxHOLiC characters or the plot. ;.; All rights reserved to CLAMP.
Summary: Watanuki meets an unfortunate accident and dies. Everyone reacts their own way… but something is eerie about his death… Something isn't settling right with Doumeki.
Warning: Possible language, possible violence, shounen-ai implications
Pairing: Dou/Wata if you want it to be.
A/N: I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while! I got into a Naruto kick because I've never seen it before so yeah… I just watched 220 eps of Naruto and 17 eps of Naruto: Shippuden including all 3 movies. Yeah, when I watch something I go allllll the way lol So yeah, I'm excited that I only have a few more chapters of this fic to share with you guys I can't wait to see your reactions to the end, and I'm sure some people might want to hit me, but that's why I'm giving out a bonus chapter at the end of the fic. It's an alternate ending so I don't get the crap beat outta me lol That and it will satisfy my needs as a fangirl XD Enjoy!
000
"My, my…"
Doumeki held out and arm in front of Watanuki as the boy backed up even more. This thing was dangerous, whatever it was.
"There are two Doumeki's?" Watanuki questioned to himself as the other set of amber eyes found his own and gave him a smirk. Watanuki felt like gagging. One bastard was enough… He didn't need two.
"Kudakitsune," the archer's smooth voice was commanding. The fox who had been baring its teeth in defense looked up and licked its lips. "Keep Watanuki safe."
Although the fox couldn't really make any facial expressions of its own, anyone could feel the pleased and prideful aura that it gave off. It seemed happy to be able to help and protect the one it cared for most. The fact that its most prized possession (Watankuki) was being entrusted to it was one of the most gratifying feelings.
"What?! I can take care of my self you idiot! I'm not completely helpless! You're such a bas-," Watanuki obviously didn't take to the idea of being protected. His rant was cut off when the winged archer pointed to the sky with one arm and drew back with the other before lowering it to Watanuki's level. The boy with the glasses gulped and swallowed his words.
He looked down at his side when he felt a tug at his sleeve and an invisible pleading look from kudakitsune. Watanuki glanced up at Doumeki who moved in front of the aim of the winged copycat.
"Go," Watanuki nodded and let himself be lightly tugged along by kudakitsune.
The imposter smirked as Doumeki stared back at it with an intense ferocity that said he would kill if he had to.
And the arrow was released.
111
Watanuki was breathing pretty hard as he ran from the fighting zone, kudakitsune staying close by his side. He was making sure to stay along side the lake so that he wouldn't get separated from Doumeki for too long.
Doumeki…
Watanuki cast a stray glance back in the direction of where he had left the archer. It's not that he was worried or anything… He just wanted to make sure the archer was all right. He was always doing things to save him. Even going as far as coming to the spirit world to rescue him from "Yuuko knows what," suspected to be a "white lady" or something… Watanuki owed him his life and several more.
Doumeki was strong though. Watanuki had faith in that much of him.
They had been running for a while now and Doumeki nor the winged imposter was in sight.
"I think this is far enough," Watanuki warned kudakitsune he was stopping and the fox came to a halt.
There was a soft thud as the blue eyed boy plopped himself on the ground, catching his breath after the run.
"We should rest for now. Otherwise when Doumeki comes back we might slow him down a bit," Watanuki tried to sound as optimistic as possible, though his worrisome nature protruded through. "Thanks for coming with me," Watanuki said lightening his face a bit as he turned and smiled at the fox who seemed just as pleased from the comment.
He hadn't had any time to process what was really going on. The sight of familiar faces seemed too comforting for him and so sudden too…
He hadn't noticed the dark shadow ominously looming over him until he heard kudakitsune's growl.
It was then that he turned around and came face to face with the most bizarre thing he had ever encountered. He wasn't sure what to think of what he saw… He could either run away in fear or just cry for the atrocity that is his life… because in front of him was a …
…
75 ft carp.
…
The carp opening it's enormous mouth and the stench of fish infiltrated Watanuki's poor nose as the fish started to create a ruckus.
No… He would definitely not be able to rest just yet.
112
Doumeki had managed to get out of the way of the first arrow. He wasn't quite sure how he was going to deal with this thing. If he only had a bow… That's all he needed.
For now, all he could keep doing was run, like he'd been doing ever since he had gotten to the spirit world. He had been feeling particularly helpless ever since he had rescued Watanuki. He couldn't fight spirits without some form of weapon and he had neglected to take his bow with him, being in such a hurry to rescue the moron who he would give his life to protect.
The archer could easily dodge the invisible arrows… All he had to do was keep his eyes on the angle of the imposters' pointer finger and he was all set. However, it would not solve his problem of ridding himself of the creature. He was in an open field next to a body of water and therefore had no means of accessing any weaponry like before…
The fire of the arrows was growing more rapid he noticed as one grazed his cheek, not enough to draw blood, but enough to scratch up a little skin, exposing some pink flesh underneath.
He looked up and locked eyes with the winged archer who only smirked in response. It seemed as though the imposter thought it had the upper hand on the situation. For some reason that irked Doumeki to no end and he scrunched his face in the slightest manner of annoyance. There was no way that he would lose to another archer… If only he had his bow…
The firing commenced and so did the dodging. It carried on in this helpless manner for some time more before Doumeki heard a slosh of sorts and felt the coolness of water seep in through his right shoe. He glanced back a bit and noticed that he was at the edge of the water.
His eyes widened a bit. Was the imposter trying to back him up into the water where he couldn't dodge as easily? He hadn't even noticed since he was too deep in thought of how he would get to the flying creature…
He inwardly cursed himself and the imposter.
Shit!
He turned quickly towards the water, falling to his knees. The imposter had taken that split second Doumeki had taken to notice his current situation to attack the hopeless archer.
His knees and hands were cold and wet in the clear water of the lakeside.
The now bloodied scrape on his cheek stung a little and he made the barest of winces at the water that was slowly starting to settle from his disturbance of it.
Then something caught his eye. A glimmer of light in the reflection of the imposter now hovered above him.
Was that-?
"Goodbye," it said, arrow positioned above the true archer followed by a quick release.
113
It was an absolutely hopeless battle. Watanuki had imagined that if he moved further inland away from the water that he would be safe…
However when the giant fish flailed it's caudal fins against the ground it flew up into the air, coming down a little further inland, close to where Watanuki had been running. Watanuki had gotten up, being tugged along by kudakitsune and went for the opposite direction.
Another smack against the ground with its caudal fins and it flew into the air again, leaving two disheveled looking slabs of ground in its wake. It came down nearby in the direction Watanuki was again. It had surprising accuracy for a big clumsy looking fish.
There was no way he could keep running like this anymore and he wondered how Doumeki was fairing… It was because of him that this was happening after all.
With that thought Watanuki came to a skidding halt, eyes hidden for only a second before spinning around with a new fire in them and pointed at the giant flopping carp.
"All right you!!! No more running around! If I make that bastard come and save me again I'll never live it down!" Watanuki shouted at the fish… He felt sort of silly after doing so. One. What was he going to do to an oversized fish? And Two. What kind of fish would understand what he was saying?
The fish made another bounding leap at him and Watanuki escaped from his heroic pose a wail of fear followed by it.
He nearly tripped over kudakitsune as he did so. Kudakitsune… Kudakitsune was there! He had almost forgotten even though he had been tugging him out of danger every time. He felt a pang of guilt, but kudakitsune could definitely be of use.
"Neh! … Kudakitsune! …" he said in between breathes. The fox looked up from its position directly next to its most precious person. "Help me! … Fight?" If the fox's eyes were actually visible, they would have lit up a night sky. It had been waiting for Watanuki to ask it to help him and to protect him. It wanted to know that its help was needed. That it was needed by Watanuki. It wanted to be needed by Watanuki.
With that kudakitsune let out a small growl and a nod as it spun around, its unnaturally long claws scrapping against the ground and Watanuki turned suddenly as kudakitsune stopped.
Without wasting anytime it made a daring leap at the fish who was preparing its next unorganized attack.
Using its long claws it slashed and tore at the scales of the fish, biting down and what it could, trying to pierce and break desperately. The fish became distressed by this attempt and made another smack with its caudal fin, sending it into the air, causing kudakitsune to abandon its post for the time being.
When the fish landed, making another large indent in the ground, kudakitsune gathered heat in its mouth before opening its jaws and releasing a stream of fox fire at the fish. The carp was wailing at this point and trying to avoid touching down for long times so that kudakitsune could resume its attack on it.
Watanuki watched as the fox battled with the carp and was amazed at what it could do. He had no idea how powerful a creature it was and he smiled, cheering it on.
"Ah! You're amazing kudakitsune!" It was the truth. Watanuki was truly amazed with the fox.
Hearing its master's appreciation and faith in words made it even happier. This was a losing battle for the fish. It would finish the battle now and envelop in the glory of Watanuki's praise and affection.
One last time, kudakitsune reared and leapt for the carp, grasping onto its face, digging its claws in all the way. It opened its mouth, gathering a ball of energy into its mouth. The fish went into the air again, the shaking causing kudakitsune to loose its focus.
It was then that it realized the danger it was in. If the fish landed on kudakitsune it was sure to get injured badly or possibly even die. It needed to finish the battle now. Or else Watanuki might be in danger and that was not a chance the fox was willing to make. It had gotten too cocky with the praise.
It opened its mouth again gathering all the energy it could, forming it into a single ball in its jaws as the air rushed by it.
Watanuki's eyes widened as he realized what was going to happen.
"Kudakitsune! Get out of there!" he called out to his friend worried as to what would happen.
The two got closer and closer to the ground…
BOOM!
The fish exploded in a beam of volatile light just feet from the ground and Watanuki cried out for the fox, but he was quickly shut up as he shielded his face from the dust of the blast.
…
When he felt the wind dying down, he made a dash into the cloud of dust that was beginning to clear up, searching for the pipe fox frantically. Calling out to it.
"Kudakitsune!"
He hoped to Yuuko that the fox was all right…
A little noise coming from his side of the thin layer of dust in the air disturbed him from his pessimistic thoughts on the outcome of the battle and he could just barely make out the outline of something about waist high walking towards him.
The dust cleared away and a slightly bloodied kudakitsune stood licking his jaws.
"Kudakitsune!" Watanuki called out and ran over to the tired looking fox and he hugged it around its neck. Kudakitsune reveled in the feeling of being in Watanuki's arms and it licked his cheek. "I'm so glad you're all right."
The fox was ceasing to amaze him. How it had made it out of there alive he was unsure and he didn't really care as long as it was okay.
"Thank you," Watanuki smiled at it and kudakitsune practically smothered him with kisses.
"Are you all right?" a silky deep voice brought the two out of their joyous moment and Watanuki looked up in annoyance. The dust had cleared up and the first visible thing he saw was Doumeki. Some how that irritated him…
"I'm fine thanks to kudakitsune," he chose to smile at the fox instead of expressing his irritation this time.
"How about you? What happened to that winged thing?" Watanuki asked as he readjusted his glasses and stood up. He turned around brushing himself off and continuing to move forward.
Doumeki just smirked in response. He watched Watanuki stalk off, talking to himself, something a glimmer in his auburn eyes as he started to raise his hands.
Kudakitsune felt its lips being pulled back as its teeth bared and a low rumble filled its throat.
"Gaaah!!"
Suddenly blood filled its mouth as it latched onto Doumeki's arm, tearing at the skin and the archer let out a cry of pain causing Watanuki to turn around.
"Kudakitsune!" Watanuki was lost as to what was going on. Why was kudakitsune attacking Doumeki? Though sometimes he thought the moron could use a bite or two, he didn't actually think he deserved that…
Then there was the whir of an arrow and a slim beam pierced Doumeki through the back, causing it to come out the front. Watanuki gasped in surprise as the archer in kudakitsune's grasp let out another painful yell and dissipated into the air.
…
Watanuki just blinked in confusion as another auburn-eyed archer stood a small distance away from where the other Doumeki had stood.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" Watanuki demanded, trying to process what had just happened. Was that even Doumeki?
…
Doumeki breathed an inward sigh of relief. He had made it in time…
A stinging pain filled the archers' left shoulder as he fell forward into the water, clutching the now bloodied area. A hole where the invisible arrow had pierced.
So that was the secret… He had his weapon all along. That was mildly frustrating…
In the water, there was the reflection of the imposter's bow, made of chi… He hadn't even thought of it before and wasn't sure it was possible to do so… A bow of chi…
He winced at the pain in his shoulder and turned his head to the side so he could breathe. The water around him was turning red as more leaked out. It was not a pretty wound…
He could hear the flutter of the imposters' wings… What was it up to?
…
It wouldn't… He glanced behind him and sure enough it was headed away from Doumeki in the direction of Watanuki.
Damnit…
He pushed himself up with his right arm, trying to ignore the rush of pain to his left side. He sat back and took off his black school jacket and tied it as tight as he could around his shoulder using his free hand and his teeth… Hopefully it would help stop the blood flow.
After that was set, he got up to pursue as quickly as he could… hoping he could make it in time…
And that is where his ordeal had left him…
Doumeki ignored Watanuki's question and patted kudakitsune on the head. It had protected the blue-eyed boy well and he gave it a silent commendation.
The silence from the other irked Watanuki to no end… and he had even been worried about him too! He glared at his back as Doumeki continued to move forward…
It was then that he noticed the flower of blood that was stemming from the archer's shoulder.
"Ah! You're hurt!" all of Watanuki's anger quickly washed away, as it always did. He moved up behind Doumeki to take a look at it.
The archer stopped at the mention of his wound and he tightened up when Watanuki's feather light hands grazed his back. The bleeding had slowed down some… That could possibly mean that it was done or he had no more blood to leak out.
Watanuki looked at Doumeki who looked at him over his shoulder.
"…"
"Well? Are you going to let me have a look?" Watanuki said in annoyance. Even when the bastard was injured he still managed to piss him off.
Doumeki decided to comply, though he thought he did a pretty good job at patching it up impromptu. He sat himself on the grass and let the blue-eyed boy fuss about it. He could care less about what he was being lectured on or yelled about… He was just glad that he had made it in time…
Watanuki on the other hand, though complaining and rioting about the moron, inwardly was not feeling so high and mighty… In fact he felt guilty… The wound on Doumeki's shoulder was pretty bad… Not life threatening, but it looked like it had hurt a lot… It was all on his behalf too… Why did that bastard go through so much to protect him?
He had been thinking about it for a while… What was he to Doumeki? What person goes out of their way to give up a part of their eye? Or give up their blood? What kind of person would take hits for another? It hurt him as well knowing that Doumeki risked his life and limb for him… He had come to understand that it was the same for the archer as well…
"Thank you…" Watanuki whispered to himself, not intending for the dark haired man to hear it.
Doumeki's sharp hearing caught the two words and he felt himself relax the slightest as his shoulder was being patched up again, though he said nothing in return. He wasn't sure if Watanuki had actually intended for him to hear it and the fact that his silent response was not followed by wailing was a sign that he was right.
"There, much better than your little piss poor job," Watanuki said, admiring his handiwork. Doumeki stood up and rotated his shoulder a bit.
"Still hurts," he said.
"Of course it'll hurt you moron! Don't do that or you'll open it again!!" Watanuki wailed frantically at him. Even kudakitsune put it its two cents with a yip.
"Let's keep going," Doumeki responded.
"Don't change the subject you-!!" the glasses clad boy shouted at the man who was now walking ahead. "Wait up!!" he ran after the annoying archer so they wouldn't get separated again.
…
114
It had occurred to Doumeki as they were walking that he had no idea where they were going. He wasn't even sure if they could get out of the place without being let out... Maybe it would be a good idea if they just waited around for this she to come get them… Maybe if he purified her they would be released? It was an idea…
Watanuki looked around at the fog that had seemed to be slinking its way across the top of the lake ever so slowly. It was now creeping along the shoreline and the once crystal looking lake was no longer visible.
He didn't have a good feeling about it, but he'd be damned if he would grab onto Doumeki's hand so they wouldn't get separated. The jerk would think he was trying to make a move on him.
Besides… the idiot looked like he was actually thinking for once… He wasn't about to let that rare moment go away.
Soon the fog was upon them. Doumeki had noticed it a while ago and was sensing bad things from it.
"Stick close," Doumeki turned back to tell Watanuki, but stopped when he realized that the blue eyes were no long there, the fox along with him.
…
"Watanuki!" Doumeki gave a small shout for the boy he should be protecting. No answer… The fog was very thick. He could only see a few inches in front of his face. "Oi! Watanuki!"
Suddenly he walked into something fleshy and hard and he took a step back… He could barely make it out, but he was positive.
"Watanuki?" Doumeki questioned… Watanuki made a visible smirk.
…
"I don't need you."
115
It had been a couple of minutes since the fog had rolled in and he hadn't heard Doumeki say anything yet. Not that he was complaining. He couldn't care less if he heard the jerk's voice or not… but they did need to stick together.
"Doumeki?" Watanuki questioned. There was no answer. "Doumeki?"
… Still no answer. He started to speed up subconsciously.
"Doumeki? … Moron!" he was getting frustrated. There was no way he could be lost in the fog could there? Maybe he should have grabbed his hand anyways, even if it had cost him his dignity.
"Oi! Doume-," he was cut off as he crashed into something solid and he fell backwards. He looked up, fixing his glasses that had gone askew while rubbing his bum. There in all his annoying glory was the bastard archer.
He was about to open his mouth to say something to him when…
"I don't want you."
…
Watanuki could feel his heart beating in his ears and his breath hitched.
000
Next Chapter: She Surfaces
Yaaay!! Can you guess what happens next chapter?! It only took me 10 chapters to introduce the bad guy XD With some of these chapters I'm just trying to develop an effect for the last chapter so I'm sorry if they aren't as interesting. I don't know when I'm going to dish out another chapter. It could be tomorrow, it could be 2 months from now. I will finish this eventually though Thanks for those who reviewed!!
