Dedicated to rusalkaz
Kazahaya closed the door behind him and followed his instincts to the kitchen. The apartment wasn't that big, so getting lost in it was hardly going to happen. It was a somewhat run-down building, but it was kept neat and clean. Watanuki really was the opposite of him.
Rikuou was sitting at the table and drinking something. The faint smells of decent food wafted around him and he really was grateful to him, even if he would never admit it. If Rikuou hadn't found him on that night nearing Christmas, he'd have probably died. It didn't help that now both he and Watanuki knew that he had certain feelings for his partner. This really sucked.
"How is he?"
He glanced over his shoulder back at the hallway. "He seems to be better. He's getting dressed now." He paused and chewed his lip a little. "I think we should call Doumeki-san. I think Watanuki-san has something he needs to say to him."
"Did he tell you that?" Rikuou asked calmly.
"No," he finally admitted, "but I really think we should."
Rikuou sighed and stood, reaching for the phone. "What's the number? I assume you know it?"
At the lifted eyebrow from his partner, Kazahaya flushed again. "I got it from Watanuki-san's memories. I didn't looking for it, it just…he was thinking about Doumeki-san and it hit me."
"…You got a lot of Watanuki's memories, haven't you?"
He scratched his head and dropped down into a chair. "It's not my fault. Watanuki-san's mind is like an open book. What he thinks, he thinks loudly. What he remembers, he remembers clearly, as if it's happening at that very moment. Even when I do my best not to use my powers, some stuff still gets through anyway. It's like a battering ram against my brain."
Rikuou didn't say anything more about it and after a few seconds, he heard the distinct tones of numbers being punched. He'd never realized how funny, or strange, a conversation would be when you're only listening to the other half of it. It was a short one, barely lasting a minute, and consisted of Rikuou telling Doumeki to come to Watanuki's apartment.
"Geez," he muttered when his friend had hung up. "You could have at least explained something to Doumeki-san. He probably thinks something horrible has happened."
"Letting the imagination take over by not explaining something is the best way to get him here faster."
"You know, Rikuou--"
"Kudou-san? Himura-san?"
Inwardly, Kazahaya winced. Watanuki hadn't done it on purpose, but his timing really sucked as he entered the kitchen. He had finally made up his mind to talk to Rikuou about his feelings, as he didn't keep feelings bottled up all that well, but now he couldn't do it with Watanuki there.
"You should probably sit down, Watanuki-san."
"Better yet, go to sleep."
Kazahaya glared at Rikuou. He didn't want Watanuki to sleep until Doumeki got there and the two boys had a talk. Though he had to admit that perhaps sleep was the best for Watanuki at this point, after all that had happened.
"I really don't want to," Watanuki muttered and dropped his face into one of his palms. "If I go to sleep, I'll dream about that house and…other stuff."
He knew what other stuff Watanuki was referring to: Doumeki's kiss. Perhaps Watanuki was numb, since he was actually being mighty calm about the whole thing. Kazahaya didn't think he would be as tranquil about being kissed by Rikuou. Though he really rather wished that Rikuou was like Doumeki in that respect. This strange limbo they had between them was so very awkward and he wondered if Rikuou would just kiss him, then some things would at least be settled and they could move on to something else, back to their normal relationship.
Though they gave him food, Watanuki didn't really eat anything and Kazahaya found himself counting down the minutes until Doumeki would arrive. The apartment was so silent between them that when the doorbell rang, both he and Watanuki jumped a little.
Rikuou spared him a glance that he really didn't want to try to interpret before going down the hall and opening the door. Chewing his tongue a little, Kazahaya stood and gently tugged Watanuki to follow him toward the front door.
Doumeki was wearing shrine robes, and didn't seem at all bothered by the fact that the sun was shining down on him and that others might stare. Strangely enough, he looked really good wearing those robes and he wondered what Rikuou would look like wearing them.
"Dou-Doumeki! What are you doing here?"
"You look terrible, Watanuki."
Actually, he looks a whole lot better now than he did when we arrived, Kazahaya thought, trying to avoid touching Watanuki. It was not that it bothered him, but he knew that Watanuki probably was going through a whole swell of emotions and if he touched him, Kazahaya knew that he'd be bombarded with them.
"Kazahaya, help me clean up the kitchen while these two talk."
Rikuou's hand gripped his elbow and literally dragged him back down the hallway, leaving silence behind them. Well, wasn't that nice of Rikuou, to give them some quality time? He was actually surprised Rikuou hadn't dragged them out the front door instead, but maybe he figured that they still might be needed after all.
That was fine with Kazahaya. He had certain things he wanted to talk to Rikuou about in private anyway and it was best time to do that while he still had the nerve.
"I'm fine, so you can go now! I don't even know why you came!" Watanuki hissed, pacing in his living room.
"Himura-san called me," Doumeki explained, crossing his arms in his sleeves. Really, Watanuki looked horrible. The circles under his eyes looked like bruises and he wished that he could just wipe them away. He basically looked sleep-deprived and after the last few months, the archer had learned to how to read his companion pretty well. Watanuki was running on nervous energy, which meant he hadn't slept at all yet.
"Why!"
Doumeki shrugged. "I don't know. He just told me to come, so I did." He paused and took a few steps forward, but when he did, Watanuki only retreated further away. "You need to sleep."
"I don't need your concern!" was the quick, sharp reply.
It hurt more than he cared to admit. Watanuki didn't want his concern, but how could he not? Watanuki was in dire straits and even if he had nightmares, the boy needed to sleep. His body could only stay up for so long before he collapsed. Doumeki knew he was hardly one to talk, but he had been asleep for maybe and hour or two before Himura's call had interrupted it.
"What are those two doing here anyway?" he asked, trying not to let a pang of jealousy go through him. Watanuki had called them and not him, perhaps?
"I don't know, they just showed up on my doorstep."
Well, that was a relief anyway. At least he didn't think he had any rivals, except for maybe Kudou. Both Watanuki and Kudou seemed to have hit it off wonderfully when they met and it seemed as if they truly were close friends. He ran his tongue along his teeth with vexation. Could it be possible…? Could Kudou be something close to a rival to him? It didn't matter who it was, he was not going to let someone take Watanuki from him. He would do anything to hold that heart in his hands, to love him and kiss him.
But Watanuki wouldn't let him near, not physically or emotionally. But Kudou, who he had only met for a few hours, seemed to have effortlessly gotten what Doumeki had been working almost nearing seven months to get. Why! What did Kudou have that he didn't? What could Kudou give Watanuki that Doumeki couldn't? Why did he have to get in the way! He wouldn't give Watanuki up to Kudou…no, he couldn't.
"Watanuki."
"What!"
"I love you."
He watched as Watanuki's cheeks went from almost too pale to a perfect rose color. Those deep sapphire eyes that he loved to watch wouldn't look at him. The urge to sweep Watanuki up in his arms and kiss him so deeply and profoundly that they both forgot the world was so strong that he'd already taken two or three steps toward the boy before he could get himself in check.
"Doumeki."
"Hm?"
"I…Look, I…You get me so damn irritated, you jerk! Every time I see your face, I just want to…! Gah, this is all messed up! I wasn't supposed to fall in love with you, damn it! Don't you know! It was supposed to be me and Himawari-chan, with you as the annoying, humor-based sidekick!"
Doumeki shook his head and finally reached out to take hold of Watanuki's arms, despite the fact that the boy half-heartedly struggled. "Watanuki, this isn't some manga. Things aren't supposed to work out picture perfect. This is just how things go."
Watanuki didn't say anything and his eyes remained downcast at the floor. No matter how long he waited, no words came out and finally, Doumeki couldn't take it anymore. How was he supposed to react to what was basically a love confession except with a kiss?
He didn't know when he moved, all he knew was that suddenly, he could taste that sweetness he had longed for since a few hours ago. Watanuki didn't resist as his tongue penetrated into that pure mouth. It had been fine when he hadn't known what he was missing, but ever since that first kiss, he'd been dying for more. It was very much like placing a feast in front of a starving man, allowing him to eat once, and then giving him breadcrumbs again after that.
He just couldn't take that.
The boy in his arms whimpered as he extended the kiss, forgoing the need to breathe in favor of the love he felt for Watanuki. He could feel the hands clutching at the sleeves of his shrine robes as he deepened the kiss, dragging his lover further into his embrace until he couldn't tell whose heat it was that kept them warm.
If he could just stay like this for all eternity, he would be happy. Doumeki could not deny that even after this, he would be jealous of Kudou and Watanuki's relationship, but never would he allow that to go beyond friendship. He would do whatever it took to make sure that Watanuki would remain his.
Because he loved him.
End
