Chapter 5: Jealousy

Disclaimer: I don't own any xxxHolic characters that may or may not appear here.

(A.N.: Okay. No more Ms. Peppy Authoress.

Okay, I love that a lot (and I mean a lot) of people are reading this story, (thank you very much to BooKsK, tenshi-gosuperu, Masuda-san, Nalana, Myra Hellsing, Madde-chan, darkshadowarchfiend, StalkingAShadow, ObsessedReader, and Hatori Soma for reviewing.) but couldn't each of you leave at least one review?! :sighs: Sorry, I don't mean to be a bitch, but reviews keep me writing.

So… R&R.)

"Watanuki? What's wrong?" Yuuko asked, bending to look up at her part-timer who had a face like that famous emo rock star she saw in one of her chick magazines. "Is that eyeliner? You see it too, right, Mokona?"

"Yeah!" Even the black manjuu looked worried. "What happened, Wata?"

The teenager practically slammed the tray of food on the coffee table in front of Yuuko, which made the other two jump. "Stop trying to make a comedy out of all of this, Yuuko-san! No, it's not eyeliner, just the after effects of crying all night, that's all," he said sourly, glaring at his mistress. He straightened up and turned his back on her. "Be glad that the great Watanuki-sama went through the trouble to make you food, even in this condition!"

Yuuko leaned back in her couch, laying her hand on Mokona's head, staring calmly at her part-timer. "What condition?" she said seriously.

Mokona noticed Watanuki's shoulders tense and he fell silent.

"Doumeki's left me," the teenager said. "Like he's angry. But I don't know why. I really don't know…"

"So ask him." Yuuko kept her gaze firm.

Watanuki turned around with a bewildered look on his face. "B-but," he stuttered. "If I did something, wouldn't he just ig-ignore me?"

His mistress chuckled. "If it was you he was angry at, I'm sure he would've told you."

"How do you—"

"Doumeki-kun's that kind of person," she said smiling, then turned to Mokona. "Right?"

"Right!" Mokona said, jumping up. "Go, Wata!"

Watanuki brightened up hopefully. "Yuuko-san, I can go now?"

"Well, I can't have our cute Watanuki-chan stomping around the house and shrouding it with emo-ness," she said with a smirk.

"Shut up," said Watanuki, meaning it to be harsh but unable to hide the grin on his face. He removed his apron and bandanna, then picked up his bag and bento boxes from the doorway and headed out. "See ya!"

"Bye!" Yuuko and Mokona waved.

Once he was gone, she placed her palm against her cheek and sighed. "Ah, teenage love."

Mokona crossed his tiny arms and nodded. "Truly befuddling."

"Nice words!" Yuuko grinned, giving the manjuu a high five. "Have you been watching my British chick flicks?"

…………………………….

He ran all the way too the school, despite the fact that he was too early and there were barely any students there. It's fine. He'd wait for Doumeki. When he turned the corner and reached the gate, the first person he saw was—

"Himawari-chan!" Watanuki gushed.

"Ah, Watanuki-kun! Good morning!" she greeted. "I was waiting for you."

The taller teenager smiled. "Really…?" She shouldn't have, he thought. "Ah. Have you seen Doumeki?"

"Hmm. No." She then flashed a brighter smile. "It's still very early. Sit with me?" Watanuki nodded and the two sat on a bench under one of the many trees in the schoolyard.

"Hey, could you help me talk to him?" Watanuki said, grinning sheepishly.

"Ah. About yesterday?"

The boy nodded, blushing slightly. He wasn't sure if she knew they were together. He'd tell her with Doumeki's permission. Maybe she'd even help him out, like Yuuko does. Watanuki nearly chuckled at the idea of having "girlfriends" help.

Watanuki, preoccupied by these thoughts, failed to notice Kunogi clench her fists on her lap.

"So, will you?" the clueless boy inquired again.

Kunogi looked up, looking sheepish herself. "Actually, I just remembered I have to finish a project—"

"Kimihiro."

The two looked up in surprise. "D-doumeki!" the bespectacled teen stood, unable to hold back a smile. He could barely keep himself from hugging him. Instead, he held Doumeki's wrists.

"Fool." The stoic teen looked away, but Watanuki got the feeling he definitely wasn't angry with him.

"Ah, Doumeki-kun." Kunogi stood as well, with a strange glint in her eyes. She suddenly wrapped her arms around one of Watanuki's. "Watanuki-kun! Take me to class?" she said in a suspiciously sugary tone.

Watanuki smiled, but before he could reply, Doumeki stated, "I'll take him to class. I need to talk to him." The bespectacled teen's expression soon changed from confused to delighted.

Kunogi's face fell, and if Watanuki weren't so busy thinking about Doumeki, he would have noticed the girl shooting a dark look at his boyfriend. She looked up at Watanuki and gave a sad face. "Watanuki-kun?"

The boy she held onto pulled his arm away from her grasp gently. Watanuki smiled sheepishly. "Well, we do need to talk…" He turned and winked at Doumeki.

Fool, the archer thought.

Kunogi spun on her heels and started walking away from them. "See you later then." She raised her right hand in a wave. The two boys, in turn, never got to see her eyes tearing up in frustration.

"So, Doumeki…" Watanuki was suddenly nervous about being alone with him.

"I'm sorry."

"Huh?" the bespectacled teen looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I hurt you." He stated bluntly, caressing Watanuki's cheek with his right hand. "Just because I was…"

Watanuki gazed into his resentful, amber eyes, the ones he loved so much. "What?" he whispered.

"Jealous." Doumeki now looked straight at Watanuki, self-frustration clear on his face. "I know it's low, but—"

"Jealous? Why?" If he weren't so serious, the archer would've laughed at his boyfriend's confused look.

"It's Kunogi," he muttered softly.

"What about her?" Watanuki chuckled nervously. "She's just a friend, right?" Doumeki was really starting to worry Watanuki now. The shorter teen could feel something big coming. His heart raced in his chest and he gulped nervously. Also, he had never seen Doumeki look so troubled.

The archer looked away. "I know. It's just…" He took his hand off Watanuki's cheek, which made his boyfriend worry even more. "I think she likes you." He looked up again, to see Watanuki's eyes widen. "As more than a friend."

…………………………….

Kunogi had her head buried in her arms as she sat in her armchair. She could feel her classmates walking past her. Ignoring her. Like everyone else had done her whole life. Everyone except Watanuki. She heard some whispered words on her soft sobbing.

Why? Why did that archer have to be so…!?

She gritted her teeth, feeling her sobs shaking her whole being, and buried her head deeper into her arms.

…………………………….

(A.N.: HAHA! How's that? :D

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ALL READERS:

I'll update sooner if you leave reviews.

Really.

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