Disclaimer: xxxHolic does not belong to me. Duh.

A/N: I truly appreciate every one of the reviews left for this story. :) Thank you so much guys! If this chap bores you guys, I'm really sorry. bows it's kinda… ranting. Eeks.

Watanuki was shocked, to say the least. He was shocked not only because of Doumeki's sudden kiss-attack, but of his own reaction.

Somewhere in his head, he has expected a voice to start screaming at him to pull away, to tell him that this was wrong so that he would listen to it and break the kiss.

But his mind was strangely silent, in fact it was all fogged up and Watanuki could hardly figure out if his head was still connected to the rest of his body, much less resist Doumeki's strong arms.

The said strong arms was currently wrapped around Watanuki's slender frame, loose to escape from but tight enough to let Watanuki feel their warmth. And the archer's lips were turning Watanuki into putty. The kiss had a tinge of desperation but was gentle enough to not scare the other boy.

As Doumeki's tongue came into contact with Watanuki's, the latter released a soft groan. Immediately, Watanuki snapped his eyes open, taken aback by the sound and even more shocked that he was the source of it.

He pulled away from the kiss like he had just received some static shock and struggled to escape from the embrace. Doumeki released him and he instantly moved to maintain a distance between the two of them.

'Wha…what the hell am I doing?' Watanuki pressed the back of his hand to his lips and stared at the still silent archer warily.

As he struggled to come up with at least some coherent explanation that could dispel the heavy awkward air that had settled in the room, Doumeki didn't give him any chance.

Giving Watanuki one last look, he got up and strode out of the room without a word, sliding the door close behind him.

Doumeki walked purposefully down the hallway, the pounding of his heart ringing in his ears. He ignored his wild heart but he could not stop the images from replaying in his mind.

The feel of Watanuki in his arms, the lips moving slowly against his… it was all so vivid and unreal.

Doumeki knew he shouldn't have done that. Even if Watanuki had been the one to initiate the kiss. Scaring Watanuki was the last thing on Doumeki's agenda, if it was even on the list at all. The boy obviously has issues with him, or at the fact that they were both boys.

He didn't want Watanuki to start avoiding him. He had done, and will continue to do all he can to keep Watanuki safe and unharmed.

The look on Watanuki's face when he bolted from the kiss sent the message across to Doumeki clearly.

He hadn't planned it. Hell, he probably hadn't even wanted it.

His feet stopped walking when he reached the entrance of the temple. The breeze that was picking up felt cool against his heated skin and Doumeki sat down on the steps to take a much needed breather.

He didn't know how long he had been sitting there thinking, until he felt a presence behind him. His usually alert radar apparently didn't pick up the soft footsteps making its way towards him until it was a few inches from him.

Watanuki was standing there, looking at anywhere and everywhere except at the archer. He kept his eyes downcast and those blue eyes darted around. Fidgeting perceptibly, he seemed to struggle for the words to say.

"Erm… I… that is… er…" Watanuki looked ready to bolt from his place as he shuffled his feet a few times.

Doumeki kept his gaze steady on the smaller boy, aware that his stoic face was the usual emotionless mask. Something in him snapped and he felt a certain irritation for the stuttering boy in front of him.

If he didn't do something, Watanuki could be acting like this for god knows how long, and might even start avoiding him like plague. So even if it meant incurring Watanuki's wrath, it was still a better choice.

He got up to his full height and stood towering over the now surprised Watanuki, his gaze never leaving his eyes. A determination fire was ignited in him and he made sure that Watanuki could see that determination in his eyes.

Watanuki gulped visibly and took a few small tentative steps back.

"I'm not going to apologize."

Watanuki blinked. "Wha…what?"

Doumeki tilted his head slightly, the urge to smirk was overpowering. "You heard me. I said I'm not going to apologize. Not now, not ever."

Watanuki opened and closed his mouth a few times, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a fish at the moment.

"I don't care if you were possessed or acting under the will of some spirit or even drunk, I will find a way to drive whatever is residing in you away and then properly kissing you senseless again."

Watanuki's face was now a full-blown crimson red but Doumeki wasn't finished.

"And just so you remember, you were the one who kissed me first. So you have no one to blame but yourself, really."

"……"

"WHAT?! YOU JERK!"

A slender figure could be seen walking, no, marching down the pavement, each step literally stomping on the ground as the figure huffed in annoyance.

He stopped suddenly in mid-stride, let out a frustrated yell and attempted at pulling his hair out. Pedestrians started and instantly kept a wide berth, parents hurrying their kids along with hushed whispers of "don't look at the crazy person".

No prizes for the correct guesses to the identity of the 'crazy person.'

Watanuki Kimihiro was mad. Hopping mad to be precise. He was ready to kill someone, a certain someone that is nothing but a big fat bull-headed jerk! Oh, how he longed to stab that perverted idiot with a needle so as to bestow a slow agonizing death to him.

"Argh! The nerve of him! What right does he have? Acting so high and mighty after kissing me like that…" Watanuki trailed off, a small blush staining his cheeks as he realized what he was saying.

However, Watanuki had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that Doumeki was right in one point.

He had been the one who kissed Doumeki first.

He let out yet another frustrated yell and continued his march. He didn't know why the hell he would do something this stupid. Oh wait, he knew alright, or at least had a strong suspicion why.

He also knew Yuuko-san could tell him everything he wanted to know, or possibly give him a solution. But he was also aware that Yuuko would slap on him yet another hefty price on his tab.

And besides, if he asked Yuuko-san, he would also have to tell her about the kiss with Doumeki and Watanuki would quite frankly rather drowned himself than do that. He could almost envisage her teasing him relentlessly about it and there was no way Watanuki was going to go through that.

"Watanuki is here! Watanuki is here!"

Blinking, Watanuki looked up at the sound of Moro and Maru and realized that he had reached Yuuko's shop.

The dimensional witch was standing in the doorway waiting for him when he entered the house. Dressed in a long flowery yukata, she cocked her head and seemed to study Watanuki for a few moments.

Watanuki cast her a wary glance but before he could greet her, she leaned forward till her face was a couple of inches from Watanuki's. "Are you feeling better, Watanuki?"

Watanuki averted his gaze hastily. "O-of course I am. Now, if you'd excuse me, I have to get to work before you dock my pay for being lazy." He moved to get past Yuuko and into the house.

"Aw, don't be so mean Watanuki! I was just making sure Doumeki was taking good care of you. You really should appreciate his hospitality, you know."

Watanuki couldn't help but snort. "Hospitality, my ass! He's just a idiotic, per – " He stopped himself before he could go on any further. He couldn't risk letting Yuuko knew about what happened in his house.

"Whatever." Quickly he strode down the hallway into the kitchen, to avoid any more conversations about Doumeki's 'hospitality'.

Yuuko watched the young boy scurry into the kitchen and a knowing smile graced her lips. This could turn out quite well, she thought to herself. If only Watanuki knew, everything was only the beginning.

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Shakari: I'm really glad u liked it. Thankews man!

Catinslumber