Hello hello~ Welcome to Chapter 4, lovely to have you!

I tried to post this yesterday, but it actually ended up taking the most time to edit, which was surprising given how short it is, but there were lots of random little things that just drove me nuts that added to big things that drove me nuts. Oh well, I'm satisfied now, so I've got an update for you!

Again we're still building, but I'm excited about where we're going, and I hope you are too.

I think that's it, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to xxxHolic and I'm making no money off of this.

After a cup of tea ("This is good." "OF COURSE IT IS.") and unpacking, Watanuki announced he was going to explore the inn and try to get a lead on whatever they were supposed to find. ("You shouldn't go alone." "WHY NOT?! I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF!") Watanuki stormed from the room, desperate to be away from Doumeki, whose presence was like a constant, itching irritation. However, the moment he was back outside in the courtyard, he felt some invisible barrier around himself fall away, and found he was much more aware of everyone and everything around him: the smells in the air were more intense, the colors seemed more saturated and below the expected sounds of hotel guests and staff, birds, insects and car engines, he could have sworn he heard, or maybe felt, other whispered voices. Watanuki shuddered and shook himself. It wasn't necessarily anything supernatural, the walls of the other suites were just thinner than he'd originally thought.

Watanuki entered the still crowded lobby, then turned a corner onto a corridor where he knew from the map the rest of the guest rooms were. It was completely empty, and the overhead lights added a red orange glow to the sunlight pouring in diffusely through the windows. Watanuki walked slowly forward, his footsteps echoing strangely as he passed door after door. He heard, or felt, more voices behind them, in his chest rather than in his ears. Voices behind some doors were hopeful, others sad, a few were outright hostile.

A sudden crash echoed behind the door immediately to his left and he stopped abruptly, his heart pounding and palms sweating. "I'm sorry!" came a woman's terrified voice from within. Watanuki stiffened, but,

"For what? It was an accident," replied a man's voice, quietly worried rather than accusatory. Watanuki exhaled, though his heart continued to pound and he kept listening with all his might.

"I…"

"Yuriko, why are you crying?"

"I…!"

"You're all right, come here."

"No!"

Watanuki shuddered violently as a sudden rush of fury burst the bounds of the room, making his head spin and stomach churn. He clapped one hand to his mouth and steadied himself against the wall with the other, fighting the powerful rip tide of emotion. When he felt steady enough, he got away from the door as fast as he could, feeling suddenly guilty for eavesdropping, but,

'Yuriko,' he thought. Was it the same Yuriko he'd seen in the lobby and had given him that weird feeling? And, if so, was what he'd overheard and felt because of whatever issues had brought her and her husband here, or was she somehow connected to the object he and Doumeki were supposed to find?

Still feeling rather sick and with no other leads, Watanuki returned to his and Doumeki's suite. "Where are you?!" he called. He flushed. He'd intended the question as a demand, but the effect was totally ruined by his obvious relief as proximity to Doumeki raised the invisible barrier against all of the voices and feelings.

"Out here," replied Doumeki from the back porch. Watanuki stomped through the suite to go join him, grateful (but annoyed nonetheless) as his breath and heartbeat slowed still further. Doumeki was sitting on one of the lounge chairs, drinking another cup of tea and polishing his bow.

"What did you bring that for?" asked Watanuki, again trying and failing for his usual demanding tone. "I hope we don't get kicked out of here for being armed." Doumeki faced him, and the smallest of creases appeared between his eyebrows.

"What happened to you?"

"What?"

"You're agitated."

"I am not agitated!" Doumeki just stared at him, and he took a deep breath in and replied in a low growl, "Did you see that lady in the lobby wearing the huge sweatshirt? Her husband was ahead of you in line to check in." Doumeki poured another cup of tea and held it out to Watanuki, who glared at it. "You can't offer a guy tea he made!" A brief pause.

"Suit yourself," replied Doumeki. However, before he could drink it himself, Watanuki snatched the cup from him and threw himself into another chair, sipping slowly, because it really was good tea. "I don't think I saw who you're talking about," continued Doumeki, "why?"

"Typical. Well I think she might be connected to what we're looking for!" Doumeki tilted his head to the side, clearly hoping Watanuki would elaborate. However, when he tried to tell Doumeki what he'd heard, his chest constricted painfully, as though trying to contain the words.

"Hey-"

"My name's not 'hey!'" Watanuki snapped, though he was genuinely surprised to see Doumeki looking so concerned. Or as close as his deadpan features could get to looking concerned. He cleared his throat and drank more tea. "I'll point her out when I see her at dinner, but she gives me a weird feeling." Doumeki just nodded, his concerned stare still fixed upon Watanuki. "That's the most expressive I've ever seen your stupid face," said Watanuki, with dignity, "I'm going to change for dinner!"

Positive he'd had the best of the encounter, Watanuki got to his feet and went back inside, slamming the sliding door shut behind him.

Making tea for someone or having someone make tea for me is absolutely one of my love languages, what about you?

I think of reviews when I summon my kekkai, leave me some!