Disclaimer: xxxHolic is not mine, but this particular story line sure is.

AN: This chapter is full of fluff and other stuff, but it's essential to the rest of the story and not to mention loads of future humor.

Pairings: everybody with everybody. Ain't that fun?

Chapter 17 – With these rings..

It was time to tell Watanuki and the others about the travel plans she had made for them, that and give them the rings she had created from the magic crystals. All conveniently couched as payment and price etc, etc, etc.. have to play by the rules after all. That being the case she decided the best way to do so was to have a Party. Parties meant plenty of Sake for Yuuko, so it was a win win situation as far as she was concerned.

She told Watanuki about the party at the very last minute, as usual. Of course she expected him not only to cook enough food for the regular cast of characters, but she told him that Syaoran and crew would be joining them at some point as well.

He nearly strangled her himself, but once he got over his 'fit' he went into the kitchen prepared to make a meal for Syaoran and his friends that they would really love. Watanuki loved cooking for new people, let's see Kurogane-san looked like he ate as much if not more than that Idiot Doumeki, and then there was the white version of the Black Pork Bun, she was sure to be just as big a glutton as the Black one.…

They all gathered on the porch that over looked the garden, Yuuko was drinking Sake and smoking her pipe, it was a beautiful spring evening. Syaoran and company would be appearing in the garden later that evening. AYa and Doumeki were also drinking Sake with Mokona, which riled up the already hyper Seer.

"Look here you underage alcoholics! Really you are far too young to start destroying your livers with booze, my lovely Himiwari-chan is obviously the only 'real' lady here. See, she is happily drinking the excellent Tea I made." Huffed the indignant Seer before he stomped off to the kitchen to get more snacks for the ungrateful horde. He never saw Himiwari take out the flask of Bourbon and spike the Tea she was drinking every time he left the room.

"Wata-chan, Don't forget the Plum sauce."

"Ungrateful Witch, Stupid Doumeki… Look isn't anyone going to help me with this stuff!"

"We'll help" "Helping" Maru and Moro zoomed off towards the kitchen nearly knocking over the bristling teen in the process, when he regained his balance he ran after them.

"NO! Wait," Crash. "Crap there goes my clean kitchen. Stop, here let me…"

Sometime later the snacks that had survived Maru and Moro's 'help' were served to the hungry ignorant masses waiting for them on the porch. Watanuki finally had a change to sit down and enjoy a cup of Tea himself. Himiwari had managed to spike the whole pot this time unbeknownst to the frazzled teen. He drank deeply of the delicious tea. He felt a great deal calmer by the time he finished the cup. [snicker] Yuuko decided it was time to speak of the reason for her party to those gathered so far.

"Yes, well I suppose it is time I explained the reason for this little party."

"Sure thing Yuuko-san, like you need an actual 'reason' for drinking yourself under the table."

"Watanuki, really how can say such thing?"

"Cause its true?"

"I'm crushed you think so poorly of me, sniff sniff." Yuuko dramatically pretended to wipe a tear from her eye.

"Can it Yuuko-san or I'll hide your Bourbon."

"You're a great big meanie, Wata-chan."

"Meanie" "Meanie" Chirped the peanut gallery.

"Give me a break. I'm the non-paid, over worked, unappreciated man slave here. Just get on with it already."

"But of course, that's what I was doing before you so rudely interrupted. Now where was I?... Ah yes the reason for our gathering today." She picked up the box sitting on the table next to her and opening it displayed the four rings laying inside. "These are for you, one for each"

(sigh) "What's the catch Yuuko-san, there has to be a price for you to be able to give those to us."

"How clever you are Watanuki, exactly so. And part of the price is that you accept these rings without knowing what the rest of the price is first. Only that it is necessary."

"Yuuko-san, what the.."

"I accept the price" All eyes turned to Doumeki, for it was he who had accepted the price first. Aya was going to do it but he beat her too it.

"WHAT THE HELL DOUMEKI ARE YOU STUPID!"

"No, but if Yuuko-san says it's necessary then it's necessary. Arguing about isn't going to change the fact that we're going to end up doing exactly what she wants eventually." Doumeki was such a nice boy Yuuko thought to herself and SO smart, unlike certain part-timers she knew. Aya spoke next.

"Yes, I accept as well. Knowing the magic as I do, I know that the price will not be more than we can afford to pay or Yuuko-san would not be able to offer these to us."

Himiwari raised her Tea cup now nearly all bourbon to Yuuko. "Yep I'm in too, Yuuko-san."

"Mokona, why don't you go relieve our dear Himiwari-chan of her tea cup for the time being, at least until we have finished with this, okay?"

"Sure thing, Yuuko." With that the animated black Bun hopped over to Himiwari and relieved her of her 'tea' by downing the whole cup in one swallow. "Mmmm, Good stuff."

"Well crap, looks like I'm out numbered here. Okay FINE, I accept but I'm telling you now that I'm not happy about this, not at all."

"Well now no one said you had to be happy about it Wata-chan." Putting the now open box with the rings on the table so it was facing the watching teens. "These rings, each one is different and will speak to only one of you. Aya-chan why don't you chose first, you will 'know' what to do after you put on the ring."

The mage stood and went to the box, there inside were four lovely rings, but only one of them 'spoke' to her. She knew without a doubt which of the rings belonged to her, picking it up she looked at it closely. The ring was lovely, vibrant colors of yellow, red, orange, blue and even hints of purple, all the colors that can be found in burning flames, the tiny jewel toned dragon formed a perfect circle with its head resting upon it tail, to Aya its eyes seemed to be closed as if in sleep. She placed the sleeping dragon around her finger.

To the others watching it appeared as if a dragon of flames circled her body as she placed the ring upon her finger.

"Mage, and the Knight of Fire." Intoned Yuuko.

Knight of fire, Doumeki remembered now that Yuuko had called Aya that once before, when she was first revealed to them as a Knight Mage. Now he was beginning to understand why.

Aya moved to Himiwari, cupping her face in her two hands. 'She' cools the flames that can overheat all too easily, balances my fire, she brings me...

"Calm"

One word, it was all that was needed to be said. Lowering her face to Himiwari's she captured the dark haired girls lips in a gentle kiss. Aya then moved to Watanuki, trailing her fingers down the side of his face. 'He' was the very foundation upon which she stood...

"Strength"

Again she leaned forward and captured the Seer's lips in a tender kiss that told him without words that he was special to this woman. Last but not least, Doumeki, reaching out a hand towards the Male before her, he took her hand in his. She didn't even need to think about it there was only one word...For Fire needed air to burn brightly.

"Need"

Doumeki pulled her close and sealed the word with a kiss. As Aya returned to her seat, Himiwari was already up and moving, her eyes transfixed upon the box holding the rings. Ah yes, there it was, the one meant for her. Made of silver it looked like waves crashing one after the other all the way around the ring, the details of the waves seemed to almost make it come alive and Himiwari could swear she could hear the crashing waves upon the surf. She placed the silver ring on her finger. And a watery Undine appeared to swirled around her momentarily.

"Destroyer, and Holder of Water." Intoned Yuuko. Himiwari looked at the group and moved to Aya first, Just ash Aya had gone to her. 'She' had brought passion into her cold life..

"Warmth"

Himiwari kissed the Mage who had opened up her world. Turning to Doumeki-kun, 'He' had been here with her since the beginning of all this...

"Sharing"

She placed a light kiss upon the silent boy. Finally, she turned to Watanuki, 'He' had never given up on her no matter what, he had given her...

"Hope"

Smiling gently, she captured the Seers lips in a lingering kiss. Yes, she had hope now. Doumeki decided it must be his turn, he stood going to the box looked at the two rings left. He felt nothing from the one on the left, but... Picking up the simple ring made of white gold, it held a single opal in its setting. The changing pale colors of the Opal showing all the colors of the sky. This one, this one was his, he placed it up on finger. A ghostly and slender elfin form whirled about him, he would find out later that it had been a sylph.

"Warrior, the Silent Archer of the Wind." Yuuko intoned once again. To Doumeki that was nothing new, but it did explain some things. He went to Himiwari, Water needed air to keep from getting stagnant, Water entered air, freshened it kept it...

"Pure"

He placed a kiss upon the upturned face of the walking bad luck charm. He turned to Watanuki next 'He' was the one he had to protect above all others. He was his reason for being, the seer had to...

"Live"

Watanuki gazed into the amber eyes of the archer, as the taller male captured his lips for a kiss that sealed him to the gentle Seer. Aya, he turned at last to the blonde haired Mage that had turned his life as upside down as even Watanuki hadn't managed to do yet. 'She' was the flame that heated his heart, she was...

"Passion"

He pulled her to her feet and into his arms for a heated kiss. And now it was Watanuki's turn, there was only one ring left in the box, a slender simple band that appeared to be carved from of a solid piece of onyx. He quickly put the ring upon his finger. He thought he heard laughter, power moved about him and the faces of Gnomes appeared briefly.

"Seer, and Keeper of the Earth." Yuuko intoned one last time. Watanuki looked to his friends seeing that a and Doumeki were still a bit distracted, he went to his beloved Himiwari. Himiwari, she with the sweet and gentle smile that had touched him with her internal...

"Beauty"

He pulled Himiwari to him for good long smooch. When he came up for air he saw that Aya and Doumeki were done and watching them. Okay Aya's turn then, 'She' had healed him, in more ways than one, holding him to this world long enough for him to realize just how Important he was to so many people, she had shown him the true depth of...

"Feelings"

He knelt before the golden mage and captured her lips in a Kiss that promised there would be more someday soon.

Doumeki, one time hated rival, protector, and eater of the Bentos and numerous snacks he made. He just made him so MAD, or worse so embarrassed by his own feelings for the Archer that he often forgot to...

"Breathe"

He fell into the archers embrace, their lips touching, searching and finding. The camera Mokona had gotten earlier from Yuuko was of a much higher quality than the old one and didn't need a flash in this light. So no one was the wiser regarding all the pictures he had been taking.

Done, it was done the rings were now upon the fingers of the people they were meant for, the bonding ceremony was complete. Twelve individual words that alone or together meant just one word...

Love

Love the strongest of all bonds, is it enough to keep them together.

AN: The TRC crew is about to arrive at Yuuko's shop, in MY AU, Sakura did not wimp out and send her soul into the dream world after Autozam, she did flee to Celes before Fai could hurt her (it was a close call though) The others followed her there and the Celes arc continues Canon until Ashura-O is killed, Fai man's up and does the killing, and that is what triggers his second curse. Voila Fai's curses are gone. Canon continues to Nihon, Kurogane gets his father's sword from Tomoyo and the Arm from Fumma, Syaoran and Seshiro fight over the feather. But instead of a big battle in the Dreamworld, Syaoran-Li pops in steals the feather and disappears again before anyone can stop him.

Seems our tired, weary and battered travelers will not be getting the healing rest they so desperately need in Nihon. Yuuko has called them back to her, back to the World of the Shop, here they will be safe for now and can heal the wounds of their hearts as well as those of the body.