Disclaimer: xxxHolic belongs to Clamp.

AN: spoilers, plotting grandparents

Chapter 8….Aftermath

Watanuki was in the dream world. He knew this was true seeing as he was dressed in his favorite yakata and unharmed, and sitting outside of the room he was in was Haruka, smoking a cigarette waiting for him to join him out on the porch.

"Good evening Haruka-san." Greeted Watanuki as he sat beside the smiling exorcist (It never failed to irk Watanuki that Doumeki didn't smile more, seeing as his grandfather was so pleasant.)

"Good evening Watanuki-kun. I see you have had a rather busy time of it. You gave my grandson, his Mage and your Himiwari-Chan quite a fright. Though it is good to see that you and my Shizuka are finally coming to terms with each other, I was beginning to wonder if you would figure it out on your own."

"Wow, that's an awfully polite way of calling me an Idiot, Haruka-san. You're a Doumeki alright." Haruka laughed joyfully at Watanuki's quip.

"I almost feel sorry for my Shizuka, you must certainly keep him on his toes. He was always one to get easily bored, but now with you, Himiwari-Chan and that Mage in his life, I think boredom will be the least of his worries, Ne?"

"Why do you call her 'That Mage' or his Mage? Isn't she our Mage? She has a name you know."

"Hn, true she is all of yours, and she would willing pay the same price for any one of you. But you can see that there is a 'slightly' extra closeness there between them, similar say,.. to the one between you and your Himiwari-chan. As the years pass you will all draw closer and closer to one another, and these slight differences will become less and less noticeable. Does it make you jealous to know this? He does care very deeply for you, you know, the two of you have a very special bond."

"Yes, I know Haruka-san. I'm slow, not completely daft. "

"That is good to know, Watanuki-kun. So what name does your Mage go by in this world?" Chuckled the exorcist.

"Huh? Oh, her name is Suboshi Aya."

"Hm, a rather unexceptional name that, unlike her true name."

"Her true name, Haruka-san?"

"Hers is a much older soul than yours or even any of the others, other than the Dimensional Witch. My Shizuka has heard her true name in his heart, and so shall you one day. When you do you will understand."

"Yuuko, chided me when I first came to the shop for giving her my true name and birthday. She said that knowing such a thing could give someone power over the other."

"Then you already have some idea of why a Mage of her strength is not using her true name for everyday use. This doesn't mean she is 'not' your Aya-chan, it just means that she is more than that. Ne? Well I had better be going Watanuki-kun. Please take better care with yourself, you are important to so many people. They do not want you to disappear."

"I will try, Haruka-san, I promise." Haruka Doumeki left Watanuki in the dream world, where he drifted off into a deep sleep and dreamed the normal kind of stuff that any teenage boy might dream. Like about a couple of cute girls, a certain golden eyed archer…[Ahem... Cough cough]

When Doumeki awoke, it was quite late in the evening and he had a terrible crick in his neck, and was stiff from sleeping sitting up and not moving for so long. The blonde girl in his arms was still completely out of it. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead before he slowly moved her off his lap and laid her down, so he could get up and attend to the call of nature that was urgently making itself known. He checked on the fragile boy sleeping in the bed placing a kiss upon his forehead as well, before heading out into the hall.

After taking care of business, he saw a light on in Yuuko's favorite room to lounge around in (read drink). He thought to talk to the Witch about all that had happened that day, only to find her passed out cold, several bottles of good bourbon lying empty on the floor. Mokona sat by her head, a sorrowful expression upon his face, as he watched over the witch. He caught sight of Doumeki.

"She has feelings too you know." Doumeki came into the room and walked over to Yuuko and the Black Manjuu , bending down he picked up the loudly snoring witch and carried her to her room, placing her upon the bed and pulling a cover up over her.

"She's going to need hangover medicine in the morning; I'll drop it off tomorrow."

"Thank you, Doumeki-kun."

Going back into the room that held the recovering Seer and the unconscious Mage, he checked one more time on the fragile boy, before going to the girl and picking her up. Carrying her in his arms he left the shop and headed towards his home. It was a good thing it was so dark out or someone may have noted the blood soaked teen carrying an unconscious girl. He reached the temple without incident and was heading to his room.

"Shizuka dear?.. What happened! Are you alright, is that girl hurt?" The voice was that of his maternal grandmother, an elderly Miko normally at a temple in neighboring city. His parents were out of town once again, and knowing they would be gone for an extended period they had asked the priestess to come and chaperone, I mean stay with their strapping young son. They wanted grandchildren, just not immediately.

"Obaa-san? I-I didn't know what else to do, she won't wake up." He placed the girl on his futon. His Grandmother took in the blood stained clothes, the fact that there were no visible wounds on either of them, as well as the strain showing upon her grandsons face. She came to his side as he sunk to his knees beside the bed. She placed a soft hand upon his shoulder.

"Come we'll let her continue to sleep then. I'll make some tea and you can tell me all about it."

Sitting on a couch in the family living room, tea getting cold on the table, the normally taciturn boy spilled his heart out to the gentle Miko that was his Mothers mother. The whole day finally crashing in on the teenage boy, he wept. Stroking the soft black hair of the boy who had his head in her lap, she let him cry until there were no more tears left. No matter how big they get, there is always room in a grandmother's lap.

"Shizuka my dear boy, stay here. I will get you a pillow and a blanket, besides if your mother found out I let you crawl into your bed with that pretty little girl she'd strangle me herself."

"Hn"

Shizuka stretched out along the couch and soon his Obaa-san returned with the promised pillow and cover. He fell asleep almost immediately.

Karumi Tanaka head priestess of a Shinto shrine outside of Osaka, made sure her grandson was deep into the healing sleep he needed, the drug s in the tea she had given him taking full effect, before heading to his room to look in on the Mage lying in his bed. Kneeling by the girls side, the Miko closed her eyes and allowed her spirit to enter the girl's body looking for serious damage to her spirit. Opening her eyes the Miko took a deep breath. The mage had completely drained her reserves. But nothing a couple of uneventful days, lots of rest and a few hearty meals wouldn't cure. Brushing a few stray strands of golden hair off the face of the mage before her, she contemplated the future. Shizuka had not gotten ALL of his spiritual powers from the Doumeki side of his family.

"So, you are the one, along with that boy Watanuki that has stolen our Shizuka's heart. Eh? Risa was right you are a very pretty thing. I wonder if that boy Watanuki is as lovely and special as you. Hm, knowing our Shizuka I'm sure he is, inside and as well as out. " She stood, taking a blanket and covering the sleeping girl with it.

"Sleep child, I will watch over you. You are safe here."

It was no surprise to their fellow students, when Doumeki-kun, Kunogi-chan and Suboshi-chan were not at school the following day. Word got around that Doumeki's family had called him in, also that Watanuki was not as seriously injured as originally had been thought. A general sigh of relief went thru the school.

Grandmother Tanaka woke early the next morning. She made a large breakfast knowing that the children had most likely not had anything to eat since some time yesterday. The Mage would definitely be in need of a healthy breakfast once she awoke. And knowing the girl would want get cleaned up and changed out of the blood stained clothes, she had left a pile of towels, and some toiletries and one of her old Kimono's for the girl, setting them on the floor near the bed along with a note. She had just started cooking when she heard Shizuka get up.

"Obaa-san?"

"Shizuka dear, I have already called your school to inform them that you will not be in today. The secretary was not at all surprised. She was however very glad to hear that Watanuki-kun was not fatally injured. Breakfast will be done soon. Go, take a shower and get cleaned up, I suspect our guest will also be awake very soon. Use the guest shower, I have put one of your Yakatas in there for you."

"Thank you Obaa-san" Doumeki headed off to rid himself of the blood stained Kyudo uniform. And wash away the aches and pain of his body. Those of his heart might take just a little longer. But the healing boy sleeping in a shop no one could see unless they needed to, and the Mage just now awakening in his bed would make sure of it.

Said Mage had awakened, and finding herself in an unknown room she, looked around her curiously. The last thing she remembered was passing out after she had healed Watanuki, and that had been in Yuuko's Shop. This was definitely 'not' the shop. Her mind was still a little hazy so it took a few minutes for the items in the rooms to tell her where she was. It was the bow in the corner, and couple of archery trophies, that finally told her and it all clicked in her tired brain, Shizuka's room. Had he carried her all the way here? He must have, the big duffous. She smiled to herself. Sitting up she noticed the pile of towels, toiletries, and a lovely Kimono along with a note. That was in no way written by Shizuka, the flowing handwriting screamed female.

Dear,

I know you will want to get cleaned up. Use the main bathroom down the hall 1st door on the right. This is one of my old Kimono's from when I was a young woman. Please feel free to wear it. I will have breakfast waiting.

Karumi Tanaka (Shizuka's Grandmother in case you were wondering.)

A warm feeling entered her heart at the kindness of Doumeki's Obaa-san. Grabbing the pile, she made a bee line for the bathroom. Glad to rid herself of the clothes she had been wearing and taking a long hot shower. Once she had completed her toiletries, she donned the lovely Kimono Grandmother Tanaka had left for her and followed her nose to the kitchen. Standing in the doorway she took a deep breath, taking in the glorious smells of the cooking food. Gods she was hungry. Sitting at the table in the kitchen Doumeki was already eating a large breakfast and standing by the stove, was an older woman who had to be Shizuka's grandmother.

Doumeki looked up when he heard Aya enter the Kitchen. Maybe it was the way the morning sun caught the golden highlights in her hair, maybe it was the lovely aqua blue Kimono, with pink tinged Sakura blossoms all over it that went so well with her fair completion and beautiful blue green eyes or maybe, just maybe it was because she was here. But whatever it was, it made Doumeki's breath catch in his throat just looking at her. He knew this feeling, he's often felt it while covertly watching Watanuki over these last couple of years.

"Good Morning! Thank you, Obaa-san Tanaka so very much for allowing me to wear this gorgeous Kimono. Did I get it right? Himiwari-chan has shown me how to put one on a couple of times, but I don't have one of my own yet." Aya twirled around a couple of times to let the other two judge her handy work.

"Oi, the obi isn't quite right, here I'll fix it for you"

Walking over to where Doumeki sat Aya let him loosen the obi and readjust the Kimono ever so slightly towards the back and fix the obi properly. Personally, Karumi thought the girl had done rather well, especially considering it was her first time wearing Kimono. But watching her grandson fuss over the girl, she thought to herself, it was a VERY good thing Risa had had her come and chaperone her handsome young son this time. She should probably tell Risa to start making baby clothes, it wouldn't be too much longer before Shizuka presented them with a grandchild and her a great grandchild. A year, two at the most, Karumi remembered that look, her own darling husband had worn it, well most all the time, at least when she wasn't driving him crazy that is.

"Aya-chan, please call me Karumi-san, Obaa-san Tanaka sounds so 'old'. Do have a seat. I have breakfast all ready. I'm sure you're very hungry"

"Thank you again Karumi-san, yes I'm starved, it smells wonderful." Aya dug in to the delicious breakfast with a healthy appetite. Good, very good if she hadn't Karumi would have been worried, the Mage needed to rebuild her strength.

"That Woman was out cold when I left last night. I told Mokona I would bring over some hangover medicine this morning."

"That's an excellent idea Shizuka dear. You and Aya-chan can go get the medicine and then check on your friend. Just remember that you are both quite drained from your experience yesterday, so don't overdo it" Aya momentarily brightened at the idea but then she drooped a little.

"I should probably go back to the Kunogi's and change into some different clothes, while Shizuka gets the medicine, that way I can give you your Kimono back, Karumi-san."

"No no dear child, it looks so lovely on you. Go with Shizuka, you can return the Kimono later. Shizuka dear, you go and get changed while Aya-chan finishes her breakfast, then you can be off all that much sooner."

"Hn" Doumeki got up leaving the two women alone. Continuing to eat, Aya's eyes followed him as he left. (Hmm, I wonder what he's got on under that Yukata…)

"Dear Child…"

(EEEK! Obaa-san, I totally forgot about her.) Aya turned her attention to the woman now sitting at the table with her.

"Please don't call me child, it just sounds well.. soooo weird, Karumi-san." Chuckling Karumi, silently agreed that old soul in the teenage girl's body must find it rather disconcerting to be called a 'child' by someone who was spiritually speaking quite likely younger than herself.

"So you hold some memories of your previous lives?"

"It's a little more complicated than that, but yes, several of them in fact, though not all." She glanced down at herself, then back to Karumi and smiled. "Not to worry, I won't suddenly turn into some ancient hag on Shizuka. I will move forward from this point. Though I have to tell you, High School is absolutely hysterical from this view point. "

Karumi, couldn't help herself, she laughed out loud. She really liked this woman who was tied so strongly to her grandson and his special people. This was how Doumeki found them when he returned, the two of them laughing together.

"Oi, we should get going"

"Ya know, I think I'm beginning to understand why that bothers Kimi-chan so much." Aya grinned as she stood up and joined Doumeki. Turning she bowed politely to Obaa-san Tanaka.

"Thank you again for the wonderful breakfast, Karumi-san."

"Think nothing of it dear. Please when you are done with your errands and visiting with Watanuki-kun, come back and I will make us all dinner tonight."

Karumi, watched as the two teens left the temple grounds, her tall handsome grandson and the pretty mage dressed in kimono by his side, they were quite an attractive pair. As they reached the gate, she watched as her Shizuka reached down and took the mages hand firmly in his, so possessive. But then Shizuka had always been so, also the Mage was quite vulnerable right now and her grandson's spiritual energy would protect her.

Hitsuzen would keep them all together

AN: Reviews are welcome! Hope you're enjoying the story so far.