Title: Other Pieces
Fandom: xxxHOLiC
Characters: General (Kimihiro Watanuki, Himawari Kunogi, Shizuka Doumeki, Maru, Moro, Makona, Yuuko Ichihara)
Prompt: 065. Passing
Word Count: 521
Rating: G
Summary: One day Watanuki's personality changes, oddly.
Author's Notes: Got the idea from the movie Code 46.

Watanuki woke up that morning feeling odd. As he neatly put away his futon, brushed his teeth, ate a simple breakfast, and made an extravagant lunch for three, the feeling didn't go away. But neither did it bother him. As he walked to school, he smiled pleasantly to some people and unpleasantly to others. At school, he acted coldly to everyone he passed, often ignoring them outright. Upon meeting Himawari-chan, he greeted her politely but with a clear reserve.

"Are you feeling alright, Watanuki-kun?" she asked cutely wrinkling her brow in concern.

"Just fine, Himawari-chan."

As Himawari-chan talked, Watanuki responded calmly and unhurriedly to her conversation until the first bell rang and class started.

During lunch Doumeki-kun joined them, announcing himself with a laconic 'yo'. It was upon seeing him that Watanuki's oddness blatantly asserted itself. Giving Doumeki-kun a grin and a friendly greeting, Watanuki graciously invited him to join them in their lunch. Throughout lunch period Watanuki acted quite companionably toward both Himawari-chan and Doumeki-kun. In truth he acted even nicer to Doumeki-kun than Himawari-chan.

"Have you been possessed or something?" Doumeki-kun asked, face and voice serious.

Again Watanuki smiled, "Thank you for you're concern Doumeki-kun but I feel fine. A little odd, but fine."

Doumeki-kun looked at the pleasant faced Watanuki with a faint worry and made no reply.

After school, upon arriving at Yuuko-san's shop, Watanuki was enthusiastically greeted by Maru and Moro. He walked right past them, not even noticing their existence.

As black Makona bounced toward Watanuki with a hyperactive welcome, Watanuki grabs hold of Makona and gives him a squeeze. "Hi! Hi! Hi!" Watanuki cries as he bounces around the entryway, giving Makona another squeeze with every hug.

Dressed in a stunning gold Arabian style robe, Yuuko watched this odd behavior from the giant pile of red velvet cushions where she sprawled lazily.

"Come here," she ordered sharply.

Still holding Makona tightly with a cheerfully, vacant grin on his face, Watanuki sauntered over to where Yuuko lay. Makona dropped to the floor with a squeak and several bounces as Watanuki looked down at Yuuko.

"Sit," Yuuko commanded, casually waving to the spot on the floor in front of her.

Smirking arrogantly, Watanuki went into seiza before her.

The instant Watanuki's head was in reach, she grabbed his chin and pulled his face so close, they're nose touched. She gazed at his eyes, searching for something. She tilted his head, so she could look up his nose. She turned his head first to the left, then the right, looking in his ears. It all happened so fast, by the time she let go, after her inspections, no more than seconds had passed.

"Go away. Don't come back to work for another two weeks." With that Yuuko lay back down onto her pile and closed her eyes.

"What are you talking about? You never give me time off from work." Watanuki haughtily exclaimed.

"It's sick leave. I don't want to deal with you while you've got the empathy virus." Opening her eyes to give him an imperious look, "I definitely don't want to catch it from you."