title: Only I Can Do

summary: Hokuto must take remedial lessons from Yuko.

disclaimer: I do not own xxxHOLIC or Tokyo Babylon

spoilers: uh...Foreshadowing of...things...

"...Like this?" Hokuto asked, drawing a figure on the ground. A set of elaborate circles and symbols was scribbled onto a sheet of coloring paper. The seven year old raised the paper up in front of Yuko to see what the higher level magician had to say.

Yuko examined the paper for a few seconds and pointed her index finger at one corner. "The character for Shield, should be here." The witch examined.

Hokuto turned the paper around, tilting her head a bit to the side she looked back up at Yuko. "Oh." Was all she said at first, looking a bit disappointed. She had spent hours learning how to get the basic design of the shape correct and yet...she still failed. "Subaru would have no problem learning this." She mumbled, taking another sheet of paper and drawing the circle out once more.

A sympathetic smile was on the witch's face. Subaru...has more important things to learn. She thought, remembering how Lady Sumeragi had come to her a year ago, asking for her help.

"Why would you say that?" She asked finally, filling her pipe with some sort of purple plant.

"Subaru has a natural gift, everyone says. I have to work really hard to learn everything!" Hokuto replied, taking a break from her circle drawing and looking up at the ceiling. "No matter how hard I try, the most I'll ever learn is probably a few spells..." She sighed, sneaking a sideways glance at the failed drawing from earlier.

Yuko remained silently, setting a match to the pipe and inhaling. A rich, floral smell came from the burning pipe, and from outside, a blue butterfly floated in. Flying through the smoke, setting the gray-blue wisps into random works of temporary art. Yuko kept her eyes on the butterfly, but clearly, she was listening.

Hokuto's eyes also followed the blue insect. "Everyone says Subaru is one of the best Onmyoji our family has ever had. And I'm...his twin sister." She murmured.

Exhaling the pale blue smoke, Yuko still did not look at Hokuto. "Are you...jealous?" She asked.

Hokuto jumped to her feet, eyes wide with shock. "No! I'm his big twin sister, I have to watch over him! Not be jealous!" She said quickly.

The witch turned her wise gaze to Hokuto, she had deserved her attention. "That's good. Subaru-kun should be jealous of you, rather the other way around." She said seriously. Her violet eyes could not help but trace back to Hokuto's hands. They did look...a lot alike.

The butterfly rested its wings on Hokuto's pencil, flapping its weary wings a bit more before remaining still...As if listening in on the conversation.

"Why?" The young Sumeragi asked, apparently surprised anyone would say this too her.

Taking her eyes away from Hokuto, Yuko tapped her pipe once...twice more, shaking out the ash before answering. "Anyone can do what Subaru-kun can, if they work hard. But...there are some things that only you can do."

Hokuto laughed. "Ahaha. I know! There're a lot of things, that only I can do!"

The butterfly fluttered its wings and took off in the air, apparently satisfied with the answer.

Yuko's smile grew, but here eyes were still sad. "Never forget that."

Lady Sumeragi...one year ago: Uhh..How old was Subaru when the 'incident' happened? x.x I apologize if the age was wrong. I haven't read the series in quite some time. -bow-