Chapter 6: Captive
Watanuki began to stir as his eyes fluttered open. He lay motionless for a moment, blinking his eyes to make sure that he wasn't dreaming.
"I'm…alive?" He mumbled as he sat up. "I thought for sure those two spirits would've eaten me already." Watanuki began surveying his surroundings but instead of expecting to find himself locked up in some sort of dark, dank dungeon, he found himself atop a large and comfortable bed inside a rather cozy looking room that seemed almost of English design. Flabbergasted, Watanuki rubbed his head (as his fingers came across a bandage that treated the bump he acquired when his head slammed against the bars of his former prison) and blinked several more times unsure whether to feel safe or scared.
"Where…am I?" the seer asked aloud. However, before he could get an answer, the door swung open revealing the jellyfish spirit as it entered the room. Watanuki's eyes widened in alarm as his blood ran cold. "GYAAAAAAH! NOT YOU AGAIN! GET AWAY!" He screamed in panic as he shot off of the bed and tried to escape. Unfortunately he didn't get far as the spirit ensnared him in its tentacles once again. It exited through the door, carrying him all the way as he struggled in vain to get free.
"Stop! What are you doing? Let me go!" He demanded shouting at the spirit. "Where are you taking me?" However, the spirit simply ignored Watanuki's cries and kept its tight grip on him as they continued drifting down the strange 18th century stone halls' many twists and turns until they came to a large wooden door. A bad feeling began to form in Watanuki's gut as he stared at the grand door and what may lie beyond it. As the door slowly began to creak open, the jellyfish spirit began to enter much to Watanuki's disapproval.
"W-Wait! Stop! I mean it!" Watanuki protested as the apparition entered the room and approached the center where a set table with two chairs sat. One was a simple wooden chair and the other was a highly decorated chair in velvet cloth. The spirit approached the simple chair. "I said. PUT. ME. DOWN!" Watanuki yelled and on the word "down" the jellyfish spirit roughly dropped him into the chair with a thud and an "oof." Confused, Watanuki straightened up in his seat as the apparition loomed over him with a gargling snarl that said "don't even think about trying to run away again." Wide-eyed, he gulped seeing as he had nowhere to run. Suddenly, the sound of another door creaking open caught Watanuki's attention as he turned towards the direction that it came from. The sound of clicking heels and a cane on the polished marble floor grew louder as a figure began walking towards the small light on the set table. As the figure approached Watanuki gasped as he realized the figure's shape: it was the very same figure he saw that was reflected in the jellyfish's ghostly blob of a body just yesterday (the reptilian demon)! The demon that approached indeed looked like a dinosaur/lizard-like being that walked upright like a human with green scaly skin and alligator-like face. However, what struck Watanuki as the strangest thing was the fact that it was dressed like an Englishman with a suit, top hat, cane and small spectacles that sat perched on its snout. The demon gave a toothy smile that sent a cold chill down Watanuki's spine.
"Welcome my dear boy," the reptilian demon spoke in a British-style accent.
"…Eh?" Watanuki could only say at the unexpected greeting as he stared at the reptilian demon in confusion.
"Oh dear where are my manners? I suppose it is quite inconsiderate not to introduce one's self first, am I right?" It said as it approached the grand chair and the jellyfish spirit floated to his side, pulling out the chair allowing the lizard-like creature to be seated and pushing his chair in before being sent off somewhere by the seated demon.
"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Sir Kamisori Ago," It stated as the jellyfish spirit returned with the gargoyle monster by its side as well pushing a cart of what appeared to be snacks and tea. The jellyfish spirit then proceeded to pour and serve said refreshments.
"Uh, Sir?" Watanuki said unsure as he glanced briefly at the spirit that placed the food and filled teacups on the table. The reptilian demon nonchalantly picked up his cup and took a sip from it, clawed pinky extended politely before replying.
"Yes, England is where I was born you see, although I left quite a long time ago to pursue my life's passions and whatnot. Now I live here in my humble abode in the spirit realm."
"Oh uh…I see," Watanuki could only reply as he still felt uncomfortable in the current situation especially considering where he was. However his manners got the better of him. "Um, well my name is-"
"Watanuki Kimihiro, correct?" Kamisori stated finishing the seer's sentence after taking another sip of tea and ignoring the look of shock upon his guest's face.
"H-How did…you know?"
"Come now dear boy, you are quite the celebrity throughout all of the spirit realm so it only makes sense that I've heard your name at least once or twice." Watanuki only blinked as he tried to come up with anything to say to the being before him. Said creature obviously noticed this and gave him a reassuring smile which failed horribly as the toothy grin again sent chills down Watanuki's spine.
"You're quite unsettled I see," It said causing Watanuki to stiffen slightly. "You need not to worry, I have no intentions of bringing harm to you." Kamisori's gaze then shifted from the teen to his apparent waiter(s) as his eyes narrowed becoming more reptile-like. "And that was my intention to have you escorted here unharmed but I see some rules are just too hard to follow for some of us," he said extremely coldly directing his words to the two spirits who shrunk back in what was apparently fear. Watanuki's fear also began to rise slightly until the reptilian gentleman regained his composure and turned back to Watanuki.
"I sincerely apologize for my hired help's reckless behavior and I hope the wound you acquired as a result is feeling better now," he said bowing slightly as the two sidekick spirits did the same.
"Oh, uh, thank you." Watanuki replied as he felt the bandage that wrapped around his head once again.
"Now then, please help yourself to the tea and snacks that have been provided for you," Kamisori offered with a small smile before picking up a plate of sandwiches. "Might I suggest the finger sandwiches, but worry not, they aren't made with any real fingers of course." It then proceeded to laugh heartily at its own joke and take a sandwich off the tray and proceed to eat it as Watanuki sweat dropped and laughed nervously.
"N-No thank you." Watanuki rejected politely before the platter was set upon the table and the demon raised the cup of tea to its mouth (or snout in this case) and inhaled the tea's fragrance. Finally Watanuki decided to ask the question that had been in his mind since he first awoke. "Um…so, why exactly am I here?" Kamisori stopped savoring the English tea and studied Watanuki for a moment before responding.
"Straight to the point are we? Very well, I suppose you do deserve an explanation," he replied setting the teacup down on its saucer. "You see dear boy, I need your cooperation for a special…'task,'" Kamisori explained after taking a brief pause to seemingly find the right word.
"You mean…you need my help with something?" Watanuki asked with surprise at the unexpected excuse.
"In a manner of speaking, yes."
"But if that was the case, why didn't you just go to Yuuko-san for help?" Watanuki inquired. "If it's something important, she could do much more than I could. Why come to me?"
"Truth be told I have thought of approaching your employer, however I doubt my request would be something Miss Yuuko would agree to assist me with. Besides," Kamisori paused for a moment to pick up his teacup once more. "This task is something I need you specifically for my dear boy," he concluded before taking a long sip of tea. For some strange reason Watanuki felt extremely uncomfortable when the demon across the table had looked at him while saying that.
"Well…what exactly do you need me for?" Watanuki asked slightly suspicious and all the more tense as he fidgeted with his hands. Kamisori did not answer right away and kept silent for a moment before leaning in slightly.
"Tell me Watanuki Kimihiro, are you a collector?" the gentle-demon asked placing his elbows on the table and resting its chin on his folded clawed hands. Confused about the random question, Watanuki stumbled for a proper answer.
"Uh, err well…not exactly," he finally answered when thinking back to the last time he had been asked that and regretting giving his answer (refer to the XXXHolic Movie).
"But you do collect something," the demon stated more as a matter of fact than asking. "In any case the fact that you do collect something, regardless of whatever it may be, means that you understand the feeling of satisfaction and bliss you feel when you add more to it." Watanuki's suspicions began to give way to uneasiness as the memories of collections and the obsessions that came with it from last summer entered his mind (again refer to the movie).
"A-And? W-What exactly do you c-collect?" Watanuki asked trying not to stammer nervously but failed. Either not noticing the stammering or simply ignoring it, the reptilian demon smirked as it pushed itself out from the table and rose from its seat before tapping its cane once on the marble floor, which echoed loudly throughout the room. Suddenly, the overhead lights came on lighting up the whole once dark room and blinding the bespectacled seer. Watanuki waited or his eyes to adjust before slowly opening them again. Once he did, his vision was greeted with what he once thought was an empty room was now filled wall-to-wall, shelf-to-shelf of various objects such as paintings, antiques, and even commonly known items such as model figurines. Amazed at the variety and size of the "collection" Watanuki could only gape as he craned his neck looking up at all the shelves that seemed to continue into off space.
"I take it you are impressed with my collection," Kamisori said with pride as he slowly began to walk around the table and approach Watanuki who in turn got to his feet as well and start to draw back from the demon. "You see, the sorts of things that I collect are rarities! Anything that is invaluable and/or one of a kind is something that I feel like I must possess!" Kamisori explained while beginning to give off an aura of vanity that began to make Watanuki feel ill. "It contains a little of everything: artwork, figurines, urns, even some objects that have been undervalued such as a few valuable stamps or rare bottle caps. However," Kamisori paused for effect as he gazed as Watanuki with a strong sense of greed. "There is a living rarity that I simply must have for my collection. A being whose existence is an unusual and special one. A being that practically everyone finds absolutely irresistible and cannot keep their hands off of." Kamisori stopped his advancing and stared straight into Watanuki's eyes so intensely that he felt paralyzed under the weight of his stare. "That rarity my dear boy…is you!" The demon indicated strongly pointing its cane at the teen.
"WHAT?" Watanuki shouted, fear now completely overtaking whatever calmness Watanuki was maintaining.
"I'm quite sure you heard me clearly. Your existence is the most rare and valuable thing to all spirits, demons, and the like. If I add you to my collection, it will make my collection legendary, if not one of the best ever composed. So what do you say dear boy, from one collector to another."
"HELL NO! There's no way I'm gonna be part of your collection!" Watanuki screamed balling his fists defensively. The demon stared him down for several moments before letting out a sigh.
"I see, that is an unfortunate answer. However as a gentleman, I respect it." Completely shocked by the calmness and reasonableness his captor gave, Watanuki could only gawk for a short moment before taking that as his cue to leave.
"Uh…thank you for understanding then. So in that case, I'll just see myself out." Watanuki said before hustling over to the large door from which he was brought through. Unfortunately, the gargoyle-like demon but in before Watanuki and blocked off the exit causing Watanuki to slide to a halt. Before he could protest, Kamisori spoke again.
"I respect it, but I won't accept it!" Kamisori stared at Watanuki with narrowed, snake-like eyes staring down its prey. Panic taking root Watanuki began to shudder and his heart began to race as he looked around to find any other exit but the only other door, through which Kamisori entered before, was being guarded by the jellyfish spirit. "You will be added to my collection, whether you wish to be or not!" Kamisori then tapped its cane twice on the marble floor that echoed loudly once again. Suddenly, the shadows behind Watanuki came to life forming long, snake-like tentacles that lunged at the seer. Watanuki tried to run but one tentacle wrapped tightly around his wrist, jerking him back. He tried to pull free but failed as another tentacle wrapped around his other wrist followed by several more that coiled around his chest, waist, legs, and whatever else of him it could grab. Overpowered, Watanuki was yanked backwards into the wall but instead of his back coming into contact with the hard, stone wall, he began to melt through it. Watanuki struggled in vain all the while gasping in terror to escape the gooey, tar-like mass that the wall had become but was pulled through. He soon found himself thrown into a damp, dungeon-like room with no doors and a very small, barred window. Rubbing his once again bumped and most likely bruised head, the clanking of metal reached Watanuki's ears. He looked down and discovered that the tentacles that grabbed him had turned into shackles that chained his wrists and ankles to the furthest wall located below the window.
"I apologize for the poor accommodations my boy, but I need to keep you secured whilst I finish the ritual preparations," Kamisori's voice said seemingly coming from nowhere.
"Ritual?" Watanuki repeated fearing what else was in store for him.
"Indeed, after all sealing a live subject into a collection is not an easy task so necessary preparations must be taken. So please make yourself cozy and say farewell to the life you once knew, it will only be a matter of time before your existence belongs to me and me alone." Kamisori's voice said before fading out in laughter. Angrily, Watanuki rose to his feet and attacked the wall he had been pulled through, pounding and kicking and demanding to be released. Several minutes passed before he finally stopped his futile efforts panting, his hands sore from the rough stone. His arms fell to his side as he turned around and slumped against the wall and curled into a ball as his chains rattled. He stayed like that for a minute before glancing up at the tiny barred window as the spirit world's moon came into view.
"How am I going to get out of this?" he whimpered. His mind drifted to thoughts of what everyone else might be doing back home. "Yuuko-san…Doumeki…someone help me."