Author's Note

I don't know if I will ever finish this story. At this point...probably not? It's been too long, and I'm interested in tackling new things. I was tempted to rewrite it entirely because it has a multitude of structural flaws, but I can't return to the mindset I began the project with. However, I feel it is rude to leave you, dear faithful readers who have invested so much into reading it, in perpetual suspense about an ending I may never get around to writing. Here goes.

IF ON THE OFF CHANCE I DO CONTINUE THIS STORY, IT WILL BE ON AO3 (this story is uploaded there under the same title in an updated version), WHERE I GO BY THE SAME USERNAME.

I tried many, many times to write past the point I stopped at in the unusually short Chapter 15. None of them worked, perhaps because I tried to get Watanuki to deal with Doumeki's soul away from the family and deal with some memories regarding the sea instead of leading him to meet them first and engage their help. (It was the moment I had been waiting for all along and I was intimidated!) The clarity of hindsight! D'oh!

I also apologize for the delay in posting Chapter 15 because it didn't stack up in terms of word count. I lost track of the document I wrote it in for a while, which I last modified sometime in...June 2018, actually. *is ashamed* I didn't resume writing much of anything seriously until a few months ago.

OUTLINE

Chapter 16: Family Anachronism

Watanuki decides to play up his own mysteriousness and anachronistic tendencies while meeting the family, playing coyly with a fan whose sides match his multicolored eyes (he's snarkily sarcastic in fan language the whole time), and waits for Doumeki's children to recognize and confront him. The younger generation thinks he's a little weird but cool. The kids are cute (picking up on the strange social cues, they ask Watanuki if he is Chinese to see if that explains it). Doumeki's children, now rather old, are desperate to shut him up before he embarrasses them further and he spills too many of their secrets, so they hustle him into a private space and angrily demand to know what he wants. Watanuki is separated from Shizuka.

This was a wise course of action for them, because Watanuki reams them out bitterly and at length for the way they misunderstood and treated him, Doumeki, and Shizuka. There's a short, fierce magic scuffle and a contest of wills which Watanuki wins with the aid of the fan he brought. The Doumekis protest that Watanuki's assertions are lies with their memories and experiences. Watanuki gives his side of the story and sets them all straight and explains how Doumeki's actions hurt him too. Watanuki reveals that Ranka is planning to remove Doumeki's soul from Shizuka, and he supports that plan. Watanuki makes it clear that he wants justice for Shizuka, and they should offer their support to wipe the slate clean between them all.

The Doumekis are shocked and cowed. The youngest son/daughter is remorseful; the rest are distrustful and wary. The eldest wants to believe Watanuki, but doesn't quite know what to think. Ultimately they agree to help.

They set a date for the exorcism.

Watanuki and Shizuka visit the sea. Watanuki confronts his memories of the time he went to the beach with Doumeki, but never actually swim. Shizuka offers to go in the water for him to protect him. This goes badly but not as badly as it could have: turns out it's yet another old sea dragon god saying farewell, and bequeaths a gift to Watanuki.

Chapter 17: 'Hakuchou no Uta' - the Swan Song Ritual

The exorcism happens. There are complications. Doumeki's soul is very ALIVE, and it has some things to say to both Shizuka and Watanuki, and some reconciliation to achieve. It seems too risky to simply tear Doumeki's soul out: either he goes dormant again, or he must leave voluntarily. The full-blown possession almost burns Shizuka out, but finally, with Shizuka's help persuading Doumeki, and the aid of some technical hints from the spirit regarding the ritual Doumeki used to make the connection that helps Watanuki and Ranka remove final constraints, and the aid of the passing dragon god's gift, Doumeki's soul finally departs.

Shizuka faints with a fever and doesn't wake up for several days.

When Shizuka wakes up he doesn't recognize Watanuki at first. His soul is reconfiguring.

For Shizuka's sake, Watanuki is pressured by the family to leave when Shizuka continues not the recognize him. Watanuki argues, but has enough doubt that he concedes. He is about to leave Shizuka in the hands of his family, but finally Shizuka does recognize him. Everyone backs off.

Shizuka is still in love, but it feels different now that Doumeki's overlay is gone. Their real connection is built out of long trust, confidence, and friendship. It turns out Shizuka has a lot to rediscover about himself, but their relationship is not one of those things.

Ranka and the more open-minded among Doumeki's children recognize Shizuka's love match as legitimate and they apologize for their slander against Watanuki.

Chapter 18: Bestirring Butterfly

Back at home, Kochoushu is dealing with Yuuko breaking out more and more. She's getting bits and pieces of Yuuko's memories.

She comments that Shizuka feels different and more at peace, and she is pleased by the change.

Kochoushu's lessons with Subaru resume. She grows more powerful, and more and more baffled.

Subaru is in trouble. Watanuki, Kochoushu, Kurogane and Fai go to help and Yuuko breaks out again.

Shizuka gets to ask Subaru about the visit he had as a child. Subaru reveals that Kochoushu is a reincarnation and explains the difference between it and Shizuka's situation. Watanuki takes this news very strangely.

Watanuki contacts Syaoran, telling him of all that has transpired.

Syaoran has news of his own. The clones have been found.

Chapter 19: Spring Transformations

Watanuki gives Kochoushu a quick last-minute rundown on onmyoudo, kekkai and maboroshi.

Subaru gets set free from the damn Sakura tree.

It's a close thing. He ALMOST passes on the torch to Kochoushu.

Subaru dies. [Well, probably! Sorry!]

Subaru sends Kochoushu within. The seal on Yuuko's memories breaks fully.

Watanuki makes his peace with Kochoushu / Yuuko.

Yuuko-Kochoushu evaluates the condition of Watanuki's wish, and they correct the imbalance one last time. All wishes are made complete. Yuuko-Kochoushu explains why the order of events was necessary, and reveals what Kohane saw of Doumeki's future.

Syaoran and Sakura briefly cross worlds to visit Watanuki, Fai, and Kurogane. Syaoran and Watanuki get to reflect on the precise nature of their relationship.

Fai and Kurogane either get jobs as CLAMP Academy or pass on to a new world after all.