Disclaimer: LD TRC xxxHolic Not mine Clamps. Story Mine.
Chapter 20 – Dawn
Dawn found the partiers in various states of pleasure or pain, depending on when they went to bed and with who. Watanuki 'was' needless to say the happiest seeing as he hadn't been drinking at all. Plus, he and Himiwari had finally managed to have their 'special' night together and wonders of wonders no one had gotten any footage of any kind. It was truly a special night for the slender teen and his long time love. Himiwari wasn't in too bad of shape either, despite spiking her tea all night she had eaten enough and gone to bed early enough to mitigate the effects.
That unfortunately could not be said of quite of few of the others, Sakura woke up in the garden with a splitting headache, sprawled over an exhausted Syaoran, a Mokona snoring on top of her butt, and the other one looked to be asleep under the porch. Kurogane was sleeping sitting up leaning against the large tree in the garden, Fai-Mommy draped in his lap several bottles of Sake and what looked like Bourbon scattered here and there. Yuuko was passed out in her favorite chaise, the girls Maru and Moro asleep on the floor. Doumeki had managed to catch the happy laughing female Mage eventually and had dragged her off to bed shortly before midnight. That they hadn't gone right to sleep, well who was going to blame them… (wink, wink) Besides She had only been drunk on happiness, not Sake or Bourbon so she like Watanuki was feeling mighty fine come morning light, Doumeki had always been able to handle his liquor and wasn't in too bad a shape either.
As the group collected themselves, a disheveled Yuuko, moaned from her chaise….
"Oh my poor aching head, Watanuki! OW, do we have any more bottles of hangover medicine?" Watanuki just now coming out of his room sporting a Cheshire grin of his own, cheerfully replied. Nothing could ruin his day today. Nothing not even hung over, irritating Drunken Dimensional Witches.
"Sure thing Yuuko-san, when you told me about the party I went to the pharmacy and stocked up."
He handed her a bottle of her favorite hangover medicine, which the Witch, chugged down even faster then she chugged sake. Watanuki then went to Sakura, Kurogane and Fai, giving each groaning form a bottle of the Medicine. Syaoran waved him off with, 'Just tired I didn't drink, but thanks'. Looking around he didn't see the Idiot Archer or Aya-chan, Uh Fai, wait that was Fai there with Kurogane-san. 'She' was Aya-chan not Fai now and Yuui was Fai. Well at least if he got too confused he could just see who had the boobs or the eye patch and who didn't, though if Fai-san ever decided to slap on a dress and stuff and Aya put on an eye patch he was lost. Maybe it really was a good thing he, Doumeki and Aya were going on a journey if they all hung out together long enough this could give him a serious migraine even without the constant drinking. Maybe he should go start breakfast, the ravenous horde would be hungry once they were all fully awake.
Watanuki was coming out with tall stacks of Yuuko's (and so what if they were also that idiot Doumeki's) favorite breakfast of western style pancakes with maple syrup, when said Idiot and the curvy blonde Mage joined the others recovering on the porch.
"Ohhhh, why is the Sun so Bright!"
"Maybe if you hadn't taken every single Sake bottle out of my hands and chugged it down like water, perhaps your silly fluffy blonde head wouldn't feel like it was going to explode."
"Oh Kuro-puu is so cruel to Fai-Mommy, yelling so loudly in his ear."
"Idiot."
"What did Watanuki do this time?"
"Not that Idiot, this blonde Idiot here. He drank himself silly, chased after Sakura, both of them Meowing like crazy all night long."
"Hn, and here I thought someone was killing cat's, that explains it."
"I'm really starting to like you Archer, really I am." Kurogane burst out laughing, Doumeki smirked, glad that at least the Ninja understood him.
"Kuro-pi, PLEASE." At that they all started to laugh at the poor green tinged Mage. Fai barely made it to the bathroom before he lost what little he had in his stomach, he'd been too distracted to feed last night, bad luck for him. Vampires really shouldn't drink booze on an empty stomach, it makes them violently ill. Kurogane got up and followed Fai into the other room, they returned several minutes later, Fai looking far less green having finally fed, the Ninja returned to the table to chow down some of the delicious looking pancakes.
Yuuko was tucking into her Pancakes like a champ, she had managed to pull herself together after only two bottles of medicine. Waving her fork dripping with a syrup loaded pancake at the young people who were just finishing their own piles of pancakes.
"I have taken the liberty of gathering some clothing for each of you, for Syaoran-kun, Sakura-Hime, Kurogane-San and Fai-san I have gotten them clothing suitable for this world. Watanuki for you Doumeki-kun and Aya-Chan I have packed each a small travel bag and laid out clothing for your 'quest'. Himiwari-chan I even got you a new outfit. When you're done eating you can all go change. Girls to the right, boys to the left."
"What's the price for all this Witch-san?" Waving the suspicious Ninja off and wearing her best cat face, Yuuko replied.
"Oh not to worry, the price has already been paid," When Yuuko had gone to change while breakfast was cooking she had checked on the security tapes from last night. Between that footage and what the Mokonas had shot, she'd actually had to add a little extra to each pile of clothing. The price must equal the payment after all and some of that footage was priceless, absolutely priceless.
"Whaohohohoho"
The girls jumped up and ran to the room that held their new clothing, eager to check it all out and get changed. Girls will be girls no matter what world they are from. Watanuki was in an exceptionally good mood, he looked to Fai and teasing the male Mage asked.
"So… which room do you think your clothes are in Fai-Mommy?"
"The same room as yours Wata-chan." The ever cheerful uke blonde quipped back.
"Good one Fai-san, shall we go see what my demented boss has cooked up for us?" As the slender males headed to the room labeled as the 'boys' room Watanuki looked off into the distance with a hand placed dramatically to his forehead. "Wait..I See, Skinny jeans in your future and a t-shirt that is just a smidge too small." laughing the uke males entered the room, followed closely by their Seme counterparts and the ever suffering Syaoran.
Squee's of joy and 'Oh that is just so cute on you' were heard from the girls room. From the Boys...
"WHAT THE FU... YUUKO WHAT WERE YOU THINKING! I'M AM SO NOT WEARING THIS." Seems Watanuki was wrong about nothing being able to spoil his good mood.
"Oi, calm down, it looks fine"
"DAMNIT MY NAME IT NOT OI! AND THATS EASY FOR YOU TO SAY YOU JACKASS, YOU'RE NOT WEARING A DRESS"
"No really Wata-chan it looks great on you, here let me help you with that."
"Fai-san are you SURE you're not a girl like Aya?"
"Of course I'm not a girl see.."
Thud
"Wata-chan?"
"Idiots"
"Absolutely"
"I so need to get out of this room, I swear I get more and more mentally damaged every day."
On that note Syaoran left the boys dressing room, he was sporting a nice pair of blue jeans, sneakers and a light green t-shirt, his goggles has been traded in for a dark pair of sunglasses that he had perched on the top of his head. He looked like any young teenage boy. Kurogane who had followed Syaoran out was dressed in a pair of black jeans he had a white t-shirt on and a black leather jacket. Fai was pulling the reluctant Watanuki out of the room, Light blue distressed skinny jeans as predicted by the Seer rode low on his hips, the shirt was one of Watanuki's old summer school uniform shirts. Needless to say it was perfect on the slender Mage just short enough so a fair amount of his waist and belly button showed between the top of the jeans and the bottom of the shirt. Plus the Mage had only buttoned the middle buttons, this caused the collar to fall open just right exposing a fair amount of the slender males neck and collar bone, It looked great on him...at least Kurogane thought so.
As for the poor distressed Seer... His outfit was of a deep sapphire blue cut close to his body done in the Chinese style, it was sleeveless with a high neck. What really had Watanuki in an uproar was the slit that ran up front set off over his right leg and ran past mid-thigh, the fact that were no pants for the outfit showed plenty of pale skin. When he walked it caused the slit to open wider so his slim well defined legs from all the years of running flashed enticingly. About his left bicep the was an armband made of silver and from his ears dangled sapphire earrings (how the hell had Yuuko know both his ears were pierced he'd done it years ago when it was all the rage).
Doumeki at least he had pants on, fumed the furious teen. His outfit was very similar to the one Kurogane wore normally, minus the cape and scary head piece. Though instead of black the cloth was a serviceable tan shade and the armor was done in a swirled pattern of amber and moss green, the Doumeki family symbol emblazoned on the chest plate in black. He carried his bow a quiver of arrows was at his back. His left ear sported an amber stud earring, figures Watanuki grumbled to himself that the big jerk had only pierced his left ear, stupid Archer... Watanuki was gearing up to give Yuuko a serious tongue lashing when the girls finally came out of the room they had been in, Himiwari seeing Watanuki's outfit sqee'd in delight.
"Oh, Kimihiro-kun you look so HOT in that,"
"Oh, Himiwari-chan, do you really think so? Do you like this color on me? Watanuki danced in joy around his 'bea-u-ti-ful' Himiwari-chan', the usual sparkles and hearts cluttering the air. The twirling gave everyone a lovely view of the Seer's graceful legs. Himiwari had gotten a new dark blue mini skirt and white blouse trimmed in the same dark blue. Sakura was in pink and white, her skirt had a bib to it with a picture a cat's head embroidered on it. Both girls looked very pretty.
Then Aya walked out into the room, 'hyuu' whistled' Fai, Kurogane lifted a dark brow at the curvy Mage's outfit. Watanuki stopped his twirling and realized his outfit was actually tame compared to hers. Though someone would have to be a complete fool to try and hit on her considering all the hardware she was sporting. Done in a deep red it was trimmed in black, the sleeveless tight fitting outfit only went to mid-thigh and was then slit up both sides to nearly her waist, were a black sash circled her waist, the neck line was cut out low exposing a good amount of her chest and cleavage. Rubies sparkled from her ears and a scarlet headband circled her forehead. What would give the hormonally challenged pause was all the metal tucked about her person, crossed in the small of her back thru the sash around her waist were a pair of kodochi's, in sheaths on her wrists were blades that with a twist would extend the stiletto's. Her hair was twisted up in the back and a pair of needle sharp senbons was holding it in place, in one of her hands was the long case she carted with her everywhere, and in the other was a sword that Watanuki recognized, as did Kurogane.
"It that..?"
"Yes, it is the sword you paid as your original price to travel the worlds." Yuuko told the Ninja. Aya had a pensive look upon her face as she walked towards the rest.
"I can't take Kei from this world, she won't be able to go on this quest with me will she Yuuko-san?"
"No Kei cannot leave this world, she must remain here, one of the others will need to care for her while you are gone. I have given you the sword Kurogane once gave to me as his price, now that he has the original Ginryu the sword of his father, he no longer needs this one, this one deserves its own name don't you think?" Aya nodded, placing the case holding Kei upon a table she drew the other sword from its sheath, holding it before her she called upon the magic and named the blade, finally giving it it's True Name.
"I name him Ryu for he is the Dragon Blade, also for the Child, so that I will never forget the bravery of that one bright little soul and the lessons learned." The sword was named, the soul within the blade came alive, blue flames licked up and down the blade as it flared to life for the first time in the hands of the warrior for whom it had truly been meant.
"A fitting name. More than fitting, it is perfect, well done Knight of Fire." The Knight sheathed the sword and strapped it to her hip. Taking up the long case from the table she opened it and withdrew the Katana that was Kei, she went to stand before Fai presenting the blade to him.
"This is Kei, she is a good friend of mine. Keep her safe and with you always while I am gone. Her story is her own, though she may share it with you." Fai took the katana and drawing the blade felt the life force of the blade that was Kei."
"She-she's alive and she is speaking to me... I-I will care for her, do not worry." Relief spread across the face of the Knight Mage.
"She likes you, I thought she might, she's rather partial to blondes."
"Well then your all dressed, packed and properly armed it's time to start your quest." Watanuki who had been saying his goodbyes to Himiwari in a semi private corner rejoined the group. Aya went to Kurogane and placed a kiss upon his cheek startling the Dark Ninja. And whispered in his ear
"Thank you for saving his life." She then went and embraced the twin of her soul. Fai buried his head in her neck.
"Cerowyn, do I find you only to lose you again?"
"No, beloved I WILL return. My Corwin." She joined the still blushing Watanuki and the silent Doumeki. Yuuko seeing a chance to cheer up the very jealous and seething Doumeki and stir things up just a little bit at the same time...
"Oh by the way, the rings you all 'exchanged' yesterday are not just of elemental magic, as far as the Magic and worlds are concerned, you're all married now. Last night was in fact a wedding celebration. Mokona NOW."
"WHAT THE...
"YUUKO! HOW DAR...
Whoosh
The three teens disappeared to start their quest along with the black Mokona, as two of them started yelling at the meddling Witch, a certain stoic Archer was grinning from ear to ear. He looked exactly like Haruka in that moment, all he would have needed to complete the picture was a cigarette. Himiwari who had been left behind sat on the floor stunned.
"My mom is going to kill me."
"Don't worry dear, you can have a nice formal Japanese wedding in a couple of years."
"Ah, okay then." And she smiled one of her brilliant super charged smiles.
Syaoran whispered to Kurogane.."Poor Watanuki, I think he's doomed." Kurogane smirked and looked from Syaoran to Sakura and back, ruffling the kids hair her replied.
"You are SO young yet. Hey, Witch-san you wouldn't by any chance have one of 'those' outfits in blue would you? Without the hardware."
"Perhaps, For a Price."
"Hmmm, might just be worth it. Let me think it over."
The three have left to begin their Quest, those that Traveled have arrived to rest.
Always there is balance.
AN: An so ends Part one of the Price of Balance Chronicles. Part 2 begins our travelers journey and Quest for their Special Items.