April kisses

Ward

By: samthegreat

Disclaimer: never falters

"And I'm sure you're not dumb enough not to realize what an ungodly hour it is." The archer grumbled as the front door of Watanuki's apartment was opened widely to allow him entrance. The shorter boy only repaid him with a begrudging nod.

"And I'm sure you realize that you're going to have to make something extra special for lunch tomorrow. No matter how ridiculous my request, you have to make it." He stood with his arms crossed waiting for the other boy to respond to the comment.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Just go home and forget about it. It's not a big deal anyways," Watanuki replied through grinding teeth as he started towards the kitchen. The taller boy followed close behind and leaned heavily on the room's door frame. He watched the tired movements of the other.

He grunted in his annoyance, "I'm already here. You've dragged me from my comfortable bed and made he come all the way here in the cold night. Now, you want to send me home. Not going to happen. So, why am I here?"

Watanuki scowled as he looked down at the tea pot he was putting on the stove top. "Tea?" Doumeki rolled his eyes at the lame response, but nodded his compliance either way. The bespectacled boy continued to glare at the pot, impatiently waiting for the water to boil.

Doumeki sighed, "I would like to get back to bed some time before the sun rises."

"No one needs you here," the boy mumbled at the tea pot, "You can leave anytime you want." The pot began to whistle to sound the boiling of the water. Watanuki reached for the kettle, but was stopped by a large hand gripping his fore arm.

"Cut the crap. Now, speak." The shorter boy couldn't help but think the other was a jerk, but sighed his consent as he shook the hand off of his arm. He poured the water into the two mugs and dunked twin bags of hibiscus tea into the hot, steamy water. The two walked in silence to the small, informal living room. They sat on the lone coach at opposite ends.

Gripping his mug tightly, Watanuki sighed, "There's something in here that's bothering me, and I need you to get rid of it." Doumeki quirked his eyebrows up in curiosity. The other boy continued, "It's in my bedroom. I'm not sure what it is…a spirit, I guess. Get rid of it."

Taking a quick sip of his tea, Doumeki stood and headed towards the door that he was certain held Watanuki's room. He waited for the shorter boy to follow him before heading into the room. He opened the door slowly and kept his voice low. "You'll have to tell me where it is."

They entered the room quietly. "Well," the taller breathed as he felt the slighter boy's knuckles brush his own timidly. The boy looked around, blushing as he did. He ducked his head slightly and mumbled incoherently.

"What was that?"

"Never mind," he started a bit louder, "It's not here anymore. I guess you being here drove it off."

Doumeki shrugged, "Well, it might come back if I leave. Do you want me to stay for a while?"

The blush on Watanuki's cheeks only grew deeper. Wordlessly he went to the trunk that sat at the foot of his bed. The boy removed a quilt and walked briskly to the living room with the other following along. He deposited the blanket on the coach and turned to the taller. "Do whatever you'd like," he muttered and retreated to his bedroom, shutting the door as he did.

Looking annoyed from the couch to the now shut door, Doumeki huffed. "Good night and you're welcome," he shouted to the closed door and he settled into the couch.

The next day at lunch, Watanuki had no choice but to put up with Doumeki's annoying comments and ridiculous orders. The tone sounded to announce the end of lunch and the shorter boy realized this was the only chance he would get to ask the taller boy a dire question.

"Hey, Doumeki," The tall boy looked down at the still sitting Watanuki, "Do you think you could come over again tonight. I… don't want that thing to bother me again." Doumeki just nodded.

The elegantly drunk shop keep looked over her can of beer to the boy slowly putting on his coat. "You're leaving Watanuki." He nodded as he gathered his school bag. Yuuko turned to stare out the window. She narrowed her eyes when they fell on the full moon.

"On the night of a full moon? Wouldn't you prefer to stay over night to keep out of trouble?"

He shook hi head, "No, I can't. I have to get home before Doumeki shows up." The slim boy quickly bit his lip to stifle the slip. The last thing he needed was for the woman to know. Chancing a glance at his boss, he saw the wide and amused grin on her face. He couldn't help but sigh.

"Oh, Doumeki is coming over to your place so late at night. What are you two naughty boys doing all alone in that apartment of yours, Watanuki-kun?" She giggled at the blush that was produced with her teasing efforts.

Watanuki shrugged off the embarrassment the best he could and tried to look nonchalant about the matter. "He's only coming over because I asked him to. There was something in my room last night and he got rid of it. I just want him to make sure it stays away." He tried his best not to look in the eyes of the woman and hoped that she would drop the subject.

She put her can of beer down. "Very well…" Watanuki let out a breath of relief and turned to go upon hearing his boss excuse him. He got to the door but was stopped by her voice again.

"But, one would think that you would have taken precautions against ghosts and spirits coming into your apartment since they like you so much. Why do you need Doumeki's help all of a sudden?" She smirked as she saw that the boy was at a loss for words. She let him leave with out further teasing.

When Watanuki opened the door to greet the archer, he was instead presented with an out stretched arm and a plainly wrapped package. The shorter boy looked suspicious as he took the package and stepped aside to let the other boy in. As Watanuki began unwrapping the parcel, Doumeki answered the unasked question, "It's a charm, a spirit ward. It will keep the bad spirits ways so I don't have to drag myself over here ever time you get scared."

Watanuki scowled at the charm and tossed it back at the taller boy. He turned away quickly, but Doumeki saw the dark red hue of the shorter boy's face. "Forget about it. I don't need that thing and I don't need you. I can take care of whatever's bothering me myself." The bespectacled boy stomped away towards the lone window in the living room. The taller boy's eyes followed the other's figure, but his attention shifted when he saw something hanging simply from a bit of twine next to the window Watanuki occupied.

The archer walked towards the window and took the thing in his hand. He looked down to find a spirit ward much like the one he had just given Watanuki. Doumeki turned to the shorter boy and extended the trinket to him. Watanuki squirmed a little. "You already have a spirit ward. Nothing could have gotten in here," he paused and inhaled sharply, "Why did you want me here?"

Watanuki extended his thin index finger to the cool glass of the window and traced abstract figures absently. "I don't know." Doumeki's hand quickly grabbed he preoccupied finger of the other boy. Watanuki chanced a glance up at the taller. He was met with dark, gleaming eyes. He quickly averted his eyes and settled for staring at the other's chest.

"I…I was just a little lonely." Watanuki had expected to be pushed a way for his lame excuse, but instead found himself buried in the taller's chest. He felt the comforting rubbing of his back and the face nuzzling itself into his short hair. His heart nearly stopped when he felt those soft kisses being placed on his temple. Watanuki was so shocked that he nearly missed the muffled sigh from Doumeki.

"I'd much rather help you with loneliness than with exorcising spirits."

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