Summary: Doumeki is staring. But he has to, because if he doesn't, nobody else will. More blink and it's gone Doumeki x Watanuki

AN: Thank you for voting, with an overwhelming majority it has been decided: this is the attempt at a sequel.

One of the reasons I am having trouble with this is because

I need to keep my mouth shut about all the good stuff (volume 7, 8 and onward), which means: I'm having a really hard time writing them before the 'good stuff''. So before I knew it, it ran away with me, this story did. It turned into something completely different. Sorry about that.

Lucky Charm

It was easy to notice the changes in Watanuki's moods; the boy didn't communicate with his words, though they were there in abundance and with great empathy. Watanuki communicated with his body, using a wide variety of motions with his hands and great deal of facial expressions. It was easy to read Watanuki's mind and disposition and act accordingly, which in Doumeki's case meant: ignore altogether. As long as he was screaming bloody murder he would be fine.

It was a lot harder, however, to notice the important changes in Watanuki without the trained eye. Chin leant on one hand, pencil in a loose grip, one elbow on the table for support, the black curtain of hair and the sunlight on his glasses masking the fact his large cat-like eyes were most definitely closed: Watanuki looked like he was fine. He looked like he was paying attention, apart from the fact he wasn't making notes; but then he rarely did in Japanese Literature since it was one of his better subjects. Doumeki understood that he only saw all this because he was perhaps more focussed on the boy than on his textbook, but to him it was pretty obvious.

Watanuki was fast asleep.

Had been for the majority of this class too. None of the students around him noticed, not even the girl sat next to him. Doumeki wasn't students however; he'd learned a thing or two in his years of running after this boy.

Watanuki's shoulders, for example were less tense, his breathing was steady instead of the irregular pattern it usually held. Doumeki wondered if the boy didn't suffer from a form of asthma, or maybe anaemia. He'd actually been meaning to ask for some time, but suggesting any one of Watanuki's problems might be medical was not something he'd try again.

Twenty-four.

It wasn't a game, Doumeki realized, but he couldn't stop himself from keeping score of how many times a teacher looked in Watanuki's direction and didn't notice. There were only so many times someone could not be discovered napping in school, but if Watanuki held up for another five or so he'd have an amazing personal record.

Still, falling asleep in class was a dire sign to Doumeki. If anything Watanuki was over-mature when it came to education -and anything that didn't involve a normal teenager's life really. Watanuki would never fall asleep in class: it would be bad for his performance. If he didn't keep his grades high he would end up in a lower class and get less money. Doumeki wasn't one for profanities, but he could think of some now.

The lunch bell rang, but the bustle of thirty odd students leaving the classroom at the same time didn't stir Watanuki out of his sleep.

Doumeki took his time packing his bag before he sauntered over and shook the boy.

"Oi, you can't sleep in school."

Watanuki sighed and muttered something. The other boy leant in closer.

"What?"

"Mokona can watch it, I don't feel well."

Even when sleeptalking Watanuki managed a slow gesture with his hand for animation. It was getting harder to rouse him from his naps. Doumeki gave him a shove.

"Wake up, fool."

This time the boy stirred, blinking blearily at the empty classroom and jumping up, knocking back his chair in the process.

"I'm awake! I wasn't- ah… what?"

Doumeki gathered Watanuki's effects and stuffed them in the bag, waiting for Watanuki to shake off his drowsiness. It took longer than last time, but for all the fuss, he did scream bloody murder at Doumeki for most of the break.

The last thing Doumeki had expected to see now was Watanuki. Even though, in retrospect, it should be the first thing. Didn't he spend many an evening meditating on the various aspects of how the boy affected his life, including and mostly the many times he appeared in random places, needing rescuing, guidance and help. Doumeki sighed, his breath still visible in the air. Watanuki needed a lot of rescuing, no, he just needed someone to be there. Doumeki had long reckoned that if Watanuki had a relative or guardian to look after him, he'd be a lot safer from the outside world.

Which wasn't fair judgement.

It was a cold and clear night. The air was treacherously easy to breath in and cleansed the senses. There seemed to be more light from the sky than from the city. City lights warped the mind into thinking it was darker than it was. Doumeki preferred natural light at night, it emphasized what needed to be emphasized. He wouldn't have spotted Watanuki in city lights.

Doumeki once again caught himself on the verge of using words as 'striking' and the like to describe the tousled form sitting on the roof of the main temple. Eyes wide open; Doumeki thought they should be big enough to reflect the stars and the moon if he'd look close enough. What had his grandfather said? A small universe behind every person's eyes, a window to the soul, a door to the heart. Doumeki made his way through the courtyard to the temple. Lyrical was all nice, but he rather pressed on to more important questions than: why didn't other people notice Watanuki's clumsy charm?

Practical questions such as: how did Watanuki manage to get on the roof?

And: how would he get off without breaking his neck?

True, Watanuki managed many things he on his own. In all honesty, Doumeki wouldn't know where to start if he had to work out and through every benefit, reduction, insurance and tax himself. He held Watanuki's victory over the Bermuda Triangle of household bills in high regard. And then there was the boy's cooking. Doumeki shook his head. Roof. Night. Question.

"Oi."

Watanuki started and upon spotting Doumeki reacted with a good amount of melodrama, causing him to slide down.

Doumeki looked up, Watanuki looked down. It was very quiet, until Doumeki spoke again.

"What are you doing?"

Watanuki seemed to get some life back into him and pointed and yelled in his usual way.

"Why should I tell you, you who are out to kill me by stalking me and scaring me to death-"

"You'll fall." Doumeki warned, seeing it coming from a mile and further.

"-don't interrupt me when I'm talking, you stalk- ah!"

Watanuki waved his arms around to regain his balance, sliding sideways.

"I told you, you'll fall."

Watanuki clung to the roof, for as far as somebody could cling to a roof. Though Doumeki supposed he had to have gotten up there somehow, dragging that duvet with him in the process. There were some grumbles and some curses, but then Watanuki was perched back where he sat.

Doumeki frowned. Those were definitely bare feet and the colour of whatever the boy was wearing under the duvet gave away that he was in his pyjamas. Something struck Doumeki suddenly.

"Are you trapped?"

That got Watanuki's attention back to him.

"What?"

"Are you stuck?"

"I am doing something for Yuuko, I'm fine and I have an excuse, why are you here?"

"Taking care of the shrine."

"In the middle of the night." Watanuki muttered.

How he managed to make that seem so strange, while he was the one who looked like he'd been teleported from his futon onto a roof was beyond Doumeki. It seemed best to do what he had set out to do first, and ask questions later. There was no way Watanuki could get down from there and escape without a loud thump to alarm Doumeki inside.

Cleaning up, taking the old incense out of the burners, and replacing it with some of his own, Doumeki threw a coin in the offering box and prayed for good tidings. For his family to be fortunate, for his cousin to have a healthy baby.

For Watanuki to have some good luck.

When he'd finished the boy was still there. Doumeki contemplated leaving. Yuuko hadn't contacted him so Watanuki shouldn't be in any immediate danger. Apart from catching a cold. This shrine was safe enough, nothing would bother him here and Doumeki's company would never be openly appreciated.

Hituzen, coincidence.

Was it really his business in the end?

Would it be wise to assume that if it was his business, it would become his business regardless of whether he staid or left? Doumeki supposed it was up to him and nobody else. What did he really want? To stay and be sneered at or to go home and warm up with some tea. Doumeki wondered if it truly was his own will preferring the roof.

Maybe he was just worried. Watanuki had since long slipped into his prayers and thoughts, why not preferences?

"Don't stare at me like that, you're giving me the creeps."

"What are you doing?"

Watanuki scowled and glanced at his watch.

"I'm done doing it. You can be useful and walk me home, they're waiting for me outside the gate. Catch!"

He gathered his duvet and threw it at Doumeki who hadn't expected that and caught it quite spectacularly with his head. It was quite possible Watanuki wore a grin when he disappeared from view; at any rate he was still smiling by the time he joined Doumeki.

"Why don't you have shoes?" Doumeki pointed.

"I do, they're over there, being chewed on by something with more heads than I can see probably." Watanuki said grimly.

"You want me to get them?"

"No."

"Wait here."

Doumeki walked over to the gate, trying to think of something that had more heads than one can see. Watanuki and his personal belongings were very popular with the spirits. The shoe floating in midair was probably the one being gnawed on. It dropped to the ground when Doumeki came closer.

"Ah, no wait…" Watanuki doubled over and sneezed.

Doumeki handed the shoes over.

"You're getting a cold."

Watanuki rubbed his nose and glowered.

"No, they're probably talking about me, that person is drunk now and laughing about my situation, I can feel it."

Watanuki put on his shoes, taking his time, and Doumeki did wonder about the truth behind that comment. It was plausible, but then it was also cold and as far as Doumeki could see -and he could see a lot of pale, glowing skin, too much for a cold night as this anyway- Watanuki only wore a cotton pyjama under his coat and duvet.

"Wear your shoes next time."

Watanuki looked up blankly.

"Sure, and I'll walk all over the place with them as well, do you really live in a shrine?"

Sometimes, on rare and always unfortunate occasions, Watanuki managed to be right about something. Climbing all over a place like this with shoes would not help someone as unlucky as Watanuki with his fortune.

Doumeki took off his scarf and pointed to the left.

"Look over there."

When Watanuki turned his head, Doumeki wrapped the scarf around him.

The boy bristled.

"You tricked me!" He struggled. "That's a cheap trick!"

"You're the one who fell for it." Doumeki tucked the scarf in, avoiding a hand intent on connecting with his face.

"I don't need it!" Watanuki huffed.

"If you catch a cold you can't do whatever you're doing now, I'm sure it would upset someone."

Watanuki plucked at the scarf and scowled.

"I want some sweet egg in my lunch tomorrow." Doumeki said.

"I don't take orders."

"And I want my scarf back." Doumeki set a fast pace.

"Then have it!" Watanuki yelled after him, but made no effort to take it off.

"Will you tell me what's going on?" Doumeki asked when the boy had calmed down a bit from his initial drama.

"There is nothing to tell."

Doumeki considered this, before he answered.

"You're sitting on my roof."

Watanuki didn't seem the least bit surprised by such a comeback.

"I can sit on the roof of a shrine! Why are you here, anyway? Decent people are in bed at this hour, could it be that you deprive yourself of sleep just to annoy me?"

"One of the shrine maidens told me they saw someone suspicious-"

"Who are you calling suspicious?"

"-and asked me to check it out."

Watanuki pulled his duvet around him tighter, glared with those big shiny eyes and then pointedly looked away.

"Well, it's nothing, I'm working, you of all people should understand, so go back inside."

If there were people around they would swear Doumeki rolled his eyes before closing the door.

"Will you stop scaring me!"

Doumeki ignored the complaint altogether and knelt down. It wasn't that cold anymore, and it was a small miracle Watanuki hadn't gotten the flu yet. Doumeki hadn't actively searched for the boy since last time, but he had to wake him up often this week in class.

"What are you doing?" Watanuki asked suspiciously.

"Shut up and do your job."

"I am!"

Doumeki unpacked a thermos and poured some tea in a cup, shoving it in the boy's hands. It was nice to see Watanuki's annoyance shift to something else for a change. He dumped a package in the boy's lap as well. It had some rice left over from dinner. Watanuki seemed too skinny with all that skin he was showing.

"What is it?" Watanuki asked even more distrustful, eyeing his tea.

"Tea. Now drink it, or you'll freeze and die."

Doumeki didn't wait for a reply and instead got up, starting his climb down the ladder.

"Yuuko put you up to this, didn't she?"

Watanuki's head appeared over the edge of the roof.

"I haven't had any oden in a while." Doumeki said, jumping to the ground.

"Are you crazy? Do you know how long that takes to make?"

Watanuki hollered some more abuse after him. Eyes gleaming, and hair messed up, arms waving and collarbone exposed because of too large pyjamas.

Doumeki was sure the boy would be fine for now.

The next day Watanuki didn't walk straight past him as per usual. Instead he walked right up to him.

"Here."

Doumeki frowned at the bag the boy held out.

"Is it oden?"

Watanuki growled.

"No, it's still cooking, you can have it later."

What 'later' meant exactly was something Doumeki intended on finding out in a minute.

"What is that then?"

"Your scarf."

Doumeki pushed off from the wall he was leaning against and started walking.

"Hey! I'm not carrying it! Here!"

Watanuki ran after him, arm still extended.

"I have a new one."

"What?"

"Keep it."

Watanuki looked slightly adorable with the perplexed expression on his face, especially with the bag clutched to him. They walked in silence until they were nearly at the point where they'd meet Himawari.

"Tonight…" Watanuki started.

"What?"

"Tonight, when I come to the shrine, I'll bring your food. But only because I have to do something in return for this!" the bag dangled from Watanuki's wrist as he waved his arm around, "So don't get any ideas!"

"Like what?" Doumeki asked.

It was quiet for a moment until Watanuki understood the leer.

"Pervert!" he exclaimed and stomped off.

Doumeki added 'scarf' to today's shopping list.

Tbcontinued.

Thank you once more for the lovely reviews, it were those that inspired me to write more. I'd be much obliged if you'd find the time to tell me again what you think. Suggestions are welcome as well. You can Review or Email me.

Cheers for reading!