A/N: Chapter 11 is up!! Read...read...what are you looking at the author's note for?


Shishimaru and Doumeki started running hard towards the softly glowing entrance. Doumeki stopped briefly when he was abreast of the summoned spirit. Turning to the vision, Doumeki regarded him for a moment. The spirit seemed to wait, understanding Doumeki's thoughts before he even spoke.

"When the time comes I am going to need something from you."

The spirit regarded him sadly for a moment, nodded and then vanished.

"What are you doing, idiot?. I told you it's the real one we're after. Let's go already."

Doumeki didn't hesitate, quickly catching up to Shishimaru; the two boys ran the last few feet towards the pale light. Together they leaped; loudly crashing through the barrier they knew instinctively would be there.

Yelling wildly, the two boys fell a sort distance and landed with a thud, right at the clawed feet of the demigod Janubis. The being didn't move as the two boys scrambled to their feet and jumped back, assuming fighting stances. They looked around and saw that hundreds of lesser youkai were perched on the walls and lounging about the general area. Doumeki's eyes alit on Watanuki's chair; the smaller boy appeared to be unconscious, being held upright only by the restraints of the chair.

"Kimihiro!!"

"Kimihiro-chan!!"

Both boys yelled out to Watanuki but the boy remained unmoved. Janubis stood between them ready to block any move made towards Watanuki.

"It is of no use. The miasma was designed especially for him. His senses are blocked off except for what I allow. Your persistence is aggravating, the hell hounds should have crushed you…"

Janubis was cut off as two high-powered spirit arrows exploded in front of him. Shishimaru and Doumeki paused incredulously as they realized that their arrows had absolutely no effect. A powerful spirit shield protected the demigod from their chi attacks.

Great, the monster has a shield up. A strong one at that. This is going to get tricky.

Janubis looked indignant at the apparent rudeness of the two humans. They could at the very least have waited until he had finished speaking.

"I am surprised you were able to make it this far. If this is the extent of your power. I see no reason I should bother myself with you. I shall have my minions squash you like the bugs you are and…"

Two more arrows, stronger than the ones before, crashed into the barrier about the youkai, achieving not even as much as a splinter. Janubis gave up trying to say anything, and made a sound as if clearing his throat. Immediately, the youkai present appeared to spring to life. Hundreds of bats prepared to swarm down. More dogs and deformed animals started edging towards them, waiting on the final signal.

"Crush them, but take your time. Punish their insolence"

The boys started moving about, dodging the attacks of the monsters while, going on the offensive. Doumeki formed three arrows simultaneously and fired them, vaporising five targets in a move. Shishimaru was surprised.

So he's been practising. I definitely can't let him pass me.

Most of the youkai hung back, a few charging each time or trying to sneak up on the boys. The sound of arrows whizzing and piercing targets filled the air as the battle intensified. Shishimaru did not like the situation. The sheer numbers and strength of the youkai put them at an enormous disadvantage. A situation like this usually needed at least three dragons to pacify the spirit monsters. He had had no time to make a decent plan and had come into an unknown situation. There seemed to be two youkai appearing for every one destroyed. They needed a plan and fast. Either that or they needed a miracle.

The youkai were pressing them now. There wasn't much space to dodge attacks and wherever they moved to, a monster was waiting, ready to slash them to ribbons. A quarter of an hour elapsed, the two boys had been effectively separated. They were cut and bleeding, an enormous amount of spirit power already being expended. Watanuki still showed no signs of waking. Doumeki was getting anxious; it was agonizing to see the boy always just a few feet from him and yet being unable to reach him.

It was evident that the monsters were toying with them- Janubis looking on with evident pleasure at their futile scrambling. They were forcing them to use up all their spirit power, then the true attacks would begin. Both boys knew this, but they had no choice but to fire one arrow after another in defence. Every so often, they would send a high-powered arrow in Janubis' direction- the being apparently standing guard over Watanuki. The shield simply shut it down, the demigod not even blinking. Doumeki realized he was getting dangerously low on spirit power, the latest arrows partially vaporizing before reaching their targets. Distracted by the realization, he didn't sense a youkai materializing from the darkness behind him. At Shishimaru's yelled warning, he only managed to shift slightly causing the youkai to miss the critical point, but was still sent flying into Janubis' direction.

Unable to ignore such an invitation to inflict some pain, Janubis raised an arm at the rapidly approaching archer. Doumeki lifted his bow to help reduce the impact of the unavoidable blow. The bow shattered as Doumeki was hit hard in the chest. The archer managed to pull an impressive acrobatic move to land on his feet, sliding back with the force of the hit. But now, he was without a weapon.

Watanuki's head snapped up, surfacing immediately from oblivion.

This feeling…

"Shizuka? Shizuka!!"

"I'm here Kimihiro…………………And Wyvern tagged along too"

Shishimaru glared daggers at him. Gee, thanks!

"Idiots, what are you both doing here? Run, leave…RUN!"

Doumeki rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to smirk at the boy's ill-timed concern. That total moron. The twin-heads of Janubis frowned. That the boy could be able to sense others should have been impossible. He had an idea of the power of this child but to be able to withstand the miasma to such an extent. He will take no more chances with this. Janubis yelled to his subordinates to fall back as he would see to the archers himself.

"I am through playing. I will end this impertinence now."

"Wait please, let them go!" Watanuki struggled frantically against his restraints- screaming at the demigod the entire time. He was shocked when he felt them splinter as he pitched forward- falling out of the chair. Janubis paid no heed to him, one face focused on Shishimaru and the other on Doumeki.

Watanuki found he was barely able to move, let alone stand. He watched as Janubis started to move purposefully and slowly towards Doumeki, opting to kill him first. Watanuki didn't know what he was doing when he removed him glasses. Gripping them in his palm, he smashed his fist hard into the ground- the glass splintering and managing to cut his hand badly. He stared at his flowing blood, a strange idea forming. Squinting about him, he barely detected some of the remnants of Doumeki's bow before him. Grabbing a large sharp piece, he smeared his blood over it. Gathering power he didn't know he had left in his body, Watanuki raised himself on his knees and made a sudden dive forward, stabbing Janubis in the leg.

An inhuman howl filled the heavy air. In a pained frenzy, Janubis lashed out, kicking Watanuki in the head and sending him sailing towards and opposite wall.

"Kimihiro!" Doumeki shouted, but Shishimaru was faster. Executing a sliding interception, the blond boy caught Watanuki before he could slam into the stone. Livid, Shishimaru remained on the ground- an unconscious Watanuki in his lap- and fired off a barrage of arrows at Janubis. The arrows struck home, causing the demigod to scream and curse even more.

Doumeki and Shishimaru were stunned. Whatever Watanuki had done had forced the monster to drop his shield. But the arrows had hardly made a dent. They had hurt, that was evident, but they had barely scratched the youkai. His hysterics were most likely due to him being unaccustomed to pain. The other youkai moved agitatedly about, readying to attack.

This was bad. Shishimaru was panting hard, that last rage-filled barrage had just about depleted his chi. He had never been forced to battle like this before. Doumeki was empty as well, and without a bow in any event. Both boys looked at each other, then down at Watanuki whose shallow breaths came out ragged and inconsistent. They were completely out of ideas. Janubis' cursing and howling were coming to a halt. Now, they were also out of time.


Doumeki stared at Watanuki, pale and unconscious in Shishimaru's lap. With the glasses gone, he looked so fragile, it was painful.

To save this boy, how far would you go?

Shishimaru was gnawing the inside of his cheek, staring at Watanuki, trying desperately to come up with a plan. Janubis had straightened himself and was giving them a glare filled with such murderous intent, the subordinate youkai fell back. Doumeki inhaled deeply, tearing his eyes away from Watanuki and tried to centre himself. He started chanting, repeating a haiku until he felt the energy build.

"A blackbird uncaged…"

'Good Morning Doumeki-kun! This is Watanuki-kun, he can run really fast- like you! Watanuki-kun and Doumeki-kun should be great friends!'

"Claiming the frosted heavens…"

'My name's not 'oi' and how dare you laugh at my bentou! Well you…you have a stupid face! So there!'

"A pipe-dream fulfilled"

'Idiot, if you are going to force me to watch you eat everyday, at least pig out on something decent! There's just no avoiding it, I'll have to make you a bentou'

'You should thank me you know. I got your soul back from the Zashikiwarashi. I saved you!'

You saved me Kimihiro, you really did. We were kids when we met, but I knew then, on that first day…I had met someone… I would love forever. Someone worth dying for.

Shishimaru looked up to see if Doumeki had thought of anything. He blinked slowly, unable to comprehend what he was seeing at first. The boy had formed a snow white bow, perfect in detail and form. He was glowing brightly as he formed an accompanying white arrow to match the bow. Not just an arrow…

…The biggest fucking arrow Shishimaru had ever seen.

The white energy sparkled and shimmered as the arrow neared completion, crystallizing about the archer giving the impression it was snowing about him. Shishimaru had seen that arrow before, he knew what it was. Until today he had only seen it the teaching scrolls of his clan, many believing that it only existed in theory. The talent, skill and willpower needed to form that bow and arrow were said to be inhuman- making such a feat impossible. But it was here…It was real. Shishimaru was looking at it: The Kamikaze Arrow…

The Wind of God.

"Bastard! What are you doing?! Rescind that energy!"

Janubis himself had been mesmerized by the formation of the pure white bow and arrow, and was idly watching in fascination. At the urgent sound of Shishimaru's voice, he appeared to recall that he was watching an enemy and that the arrow being formed was meant for him.

Shaking himself, he started with a war cry towards Doumeki. The dark archer simple raised his weapons and levelled at the demigod. Realizing Doumeki was serious, Shishimaru threw himself over Watanuki, desperately trying to summon some sort of spirit shield to protect himself and the insentient boy. He had nothing, he was completely empty. He prayed…that arrow was going to kill Janubis. It was also going to obliterate everything with a scrap of spirit energy in a ten-mile radius. Shishimaru squeezed his eyes closed and cradled Watanuki closer as he heard Doumeki speak softly.

"Kai (release)…"

With the sound of jet roaring off, the arrow was released. A split second later, there was a horrific explosion and desperate screaming, which was quickly quieted. Then there was only silence.

Doumeki watched as the arrow slammed unmercifully into Janubis, tearing through him. The shocked look on the demigod's disappeared as he was quickly incinerated along with the rest of the youkai in the cavern. A yawning silence quickly followed- smoke, ash and residual miasma blocking the view of everything, but the spirit standing in front of him.

"Kimihiro..."

Doumeki felt himself pitch forward, lacking the strength to stay upright any longer. The spirit caught him, lowering him gently unto his lap. Looking over Watanuki's shoulder, he realized for the first time that the spirit was not alone.

"Grandfather?" He was distracted by Watanuki speaking.

"You idiot! What have you done? What have you done? You shouldn't have done this…" The voice broke. "…you shouldn't have done this!"

Doumeki smirked at the distraught boy. Lifting a hand that felt like lead, he cupped the crying boy's face and wiped the falling tears away with his thumb.

"Idiot, what's with that face? I thought we had a deal, right? We had a deal."

The boy blinked at him, the brilliant blue eyes filling and spilling over. Doumeki continued swiping the tears away with his thumb, the simple action costing him much of his receding energy. He knew he shouldn't be able to touch a spirit like this.

Not good.

"I need- I need to hear you say it. I need you to tell me. I need to know." The spirit's eyes widened and the boy bent forward hugging the fallen archer intensely.

"You are so stupid! I love you. I always have. I'll love you till the day I die. You are such an idiot! I'm in love with an idiot."

Doumeki smiled into the boy's soft clothing. The comforting warmth of the Watanuki's aura was not enough to distract him from the crippling cold moving up his legs. That was saying something. He realized he was battling to breathe as his arm fell heavily to his side.

"Promise me something." Watanuki looked up at him. "Promise me you'll live for a ridiculously long time, and die a spastic old man, happy and contented.

Even if it's with Kunogi. Even if it's with that blond Jackass.

Watanuki was telling him not to be stupid, or something. He wasn't sure, everything was going hazy. He put all his remaining energy into sounding fierce and determined.

"Promise me." After Watanuki nodded, Doumeki relaxed and tried to say one last thing. "Watanuki Kimihiro, I...

'...love you. I just wished I had the energy left to say it."


Doumeki's blinked, the scent of cherry blossoms reaching him. He could hear Watanuki calling to him, but he couldn't trace the direction. He was in the yard of his temple, apparently lying on the grass. He rose and looked around, hearing Watanuki yelling at him.

This isn't funny Shizuka! Wake up you bastard! Wake up and ask me for a bentou!

The voice seemed to be coming at him from all angles. Everywhere and nowhere at the same time. He had no idea what direction to move to find the other boy.

Doumeki, please. Open your eyes. Please…

Comprehension hit Doumeki in cold waves. He wouldn't be finding Watanuki, he was a world away, and he could only listen to the voice as it got incrementally softer. He grimaced as he heard the voice splinter, the speaker breaking down.

Shizuka, please. Don't leave me.

Watanuki was crying openly now, Doumeki heard it distinctly. He didn't know whether to be grateful or not that the voice was fading.

Doumeki, Shizuka, please.

Doumeki gripped the material about his chest as his heart constricted painfully. Strong arms, that had not held him in years, wrapped around him from behind.

"Grandfather"

Doumeki Shizuka felt hot tears running down his face. What reason did he have to be stoic anymore? Watanuki's voice was gone now, the weeping had mercifully vanished.

"He'll- He'll be okay right? I did the right thing, didn't I?"

The elder priest placed a warm hand on the back of Doumeki's head, turning the boy to let him cry into his shoulder.

"Shizuka, my strong boy, my brave boy. It's time to go home."

"…yes, grandfather."


A/N: Ah, did I need to supply tissues with this fic? I read some of the reviews for this chapter and, call me crazy, but I am sensing some unhappiness. I did try to soften the blow...I tried to warn you, you know I did...(Hides). But hope springs eternal, and there's at least another chapter to go. But you have to admit, happy endings aren't always the best ones...