A/N: Whoaa did I really post this so many months ago? Man I feel bad. I'm so sorry ya'll. Please forgive me! *Grovels*

It'd been weeks since Doumeki last visited and was able to see Watanuki. Somehow, though, the shop seemed strange. Sick almost. The wood looked dull and lifeless, run down and abandoned, instead of its usual suspicious atmosphere.

Doumeki noticed that the twins did not rush to greet him. He also noted how the door seemed to creak noisily.

"Watanuki?" He called out. A bad feeling coiled in the pit of his stomach.

The twins shuffled dejectedly out of a hallway somewhere. Their faces were downturned and sad.

He cocked his head at them. "What's wrong?"

They met his eyes and a shiver ran down Doumeki's spine.

"Watanuki," one sniffed. "Is sick." The other finished.

If this had been a normal world not filled with supernatural things and Watanuki wasn't the shopkeeper a cold probably wouldn't have worried Doumeki. But this was Watanuki we were talking about; him getting sick was like a normal person getting the plague.

"Take me to him," he demanded.

So they did. The door opened with a whine and what Doumeki saw made him want to cry. Watanuki was sick all right.

The stoic male rushed to Watanuki's side. "Watanuki!" he whisper yelled.

Watanuki eyes slid open halfway. The once-spastic male was paler than his normal shade, a sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead, there were dark circles under his eyes, and raspy breaths escaped his dry throat.

Doumeki ground his teeth together. Even Watanuki's eyes were cloudy with fever. "How long Watanuki?"

Watanuki, in his haze, couldn't quite understand the question. In a broken voice he asked, "How long…?"

"Yes. How long have you been sick?" Doumeki's patience was dwindling.

"…I think…" Watanuki furrowed his eyebrows, "…a week?"

"Nobody gets this sick in a week, Watanuki!" Doumeki's voice was raised slightly.

Watanuki smiled apologetically. "I'm…sorry…I should have…" Watanuki wheezed and coughed into his hand, taking great care so that Doumeki wouldn't notice just what it was he had coughed exactly.

Doumeki saw. And he wasn't about to let it slide. Blood. Doumeki's anger boiled.

"Blood? Was it a customer? Damnit, Watanuki—!"

"No!" Maru chimed in. "It wasn't Watanuki's fault!" Moro cried.

Doumeki looked at them confusedly. "Then what…?"

Watanuki coughed again. Doumeki turned his head to look at him.

"Dou…meki…listen…I just need…rest…and some medicine…I'll be fine."

"What medicine?"

Watanuki gestured his head to Maru and Moro, indicating that they'd tell him. Once he was informed Doumeki went to get the prescription and some supplements.

"Thank you, girls," he whispered gently with a sad, sad smile.

They cried.

~x*X*x~

Watanuki wasn't proud of his lie. He wouldn't be fine. He'd get better—but that didn't mean he'd recover. After all, this wasn't a sickness known to any mortal. Watanuki had had to lie. If he didn't, he was afraid he would say more than necessary and cause Doumeki to worry about him even more than he already did.

Even without him in his life, Watanuki knew that Doumeki would marry and have kids. That was the way it was supposed to be. Should be when he was gone. It'd be better for Doumeki if he forgot Watanuki.

Doumeki came back rather quickly and set out taking care of Watanuki like he was paralyzed.

"I—I'm not…an invalid…"

Doumeki gave him a look that said: "right, and I'm not good at archery".

"Doumeki…" he groaned. Watanuki's fever had escalated and his thoughts became disorganized, random.

"I always thought…" The forever a teen mumbled, "…that you cared way too much for someone like me."

Doumeki stared, shocked, at what he had just heard. How could Watanuki say something like that?

"Ne…Doumeki…I'm sorry…for always yelling…" a laugh, "but you deserved it y'know…stoic bastard…"

That's when Doumeki decided to reduce Watanuki's chatter to mad ramblings.

"…That's rude…" Watanuki huffed, "…still no manners at your age." Another chuckle. "…but I still love you. Guess some things never change."

Doumeki froze. His back had been turned when he heard Watanuki spout off another sentence, and he'd decided to tune him out. When a particular word caught his ear. He wasn't even sure he'd heard right. Impossible, Doumeki reasoned, there's no way he'd ever say that.

"…What…?"

Watanuki smiled. "…and you're still…not…listen…ing…to…m…e…" with a sigh Watanuki drifted off to sleep.

"…I really hope I heard you right…Watanuki." Doumeki bent down. His lips hovered over Watanuki's feverish ones. He brought them down slowly to gently kiss the seer.

~x*X*x~

A/N: YEA! FINALLY GOT SOME INSPIRATION FOR THIS CHAPTER! WOO HOO! :D and to everyone who reviewed: I thank you very much.

Sorry it was so short…lol aren't I mean? Cutting it off at the best part? XD

To all reviewers: SQUEEEEAAALLLLSSSS thank you thank you thank you! *huggles all of you and hand each a cyber cookie* I love you! Stay awesome! 3

Please continue to review and tell me how you liked it! I like to know these things plus they make me feel loved and warm and fuzzy inside ^^

(If I don't know it'll go on hiatus again so it's in your best interest to review LOL)