"I'm back." He said nonchalantly, toting his usual groceries and sake, sliding open the door. He almost starting taking off his shoes, but he noticed something here was not right. The house was oddly quiet. There had been no flurry of activity when he entered, no lights on in the house, and no Maru and Moro. No Mokona. And no Watanuki. A lead weight dropped into his stomach. The silence was eerie, a dark miasma surrounding everything.
He didn't have to call out again. He knew something was wrong. Mostly because he knew there was not a one of them that could leave the house, unless something utterly terrible had…no. No, he didn't want to think about it. He followed his first reaction to look for more clues of what might have happened. But when none showed themselves, giving way to a completely neat and orderly yet…empty house, his logic began to give way to panic.
"Watanuki!" He called to nothing. Expecting no answer, he stormed his way through the house looking for any sign of life. "Watanuki!" His calls became increasingly concerned. He racked his brain for anything he may have left uncovered. Any small detail he could have overlooked.
He was visibly distraught. This was so out of character for him. How could he ever have let something like this happen? He was his guardian, for the love of…! He was supposed to protect him, only he'd never considered something like this could ever happen, inside the shop even! He had become so knowledgeable and powerful, and immortal for god's sake, that he had felt safe enough to leave him to his own devices, at least during the day when the most dangerous spirits were asleep. But he always returned to stay by his side during the night hours, whether he appreciated his company or not. He didn't do it for Watanuki anyway. He did it for himself. Just to have the comfort of knowing he was doing all he could for him.
Now he was missing. He didn't know where. How could he have let this happen? How could he have been so careless? And who knew if he was ever coming back? The darkness was suffocating.
He waited there for hours, sitting on the back porch, as if he expected Watanuki to come walking in the door at any time. He waited until dusk, the crickets chirping as if nothing had changed. He waited until midnight, the moon shining happily as if to mock him. He waited until dawn, the sun cheerfully waking from its slumber.
Yet still there was no sign of Watanuki, or the others. His head, heavy with drowsiness and self-deprecation, began to realize the truth. Watanuki truly was never coming back. That was all. He was gone. Gone.
All those years of protecting him from spirits, and from himself…
Gone.
All the time he sacrificed for him…for what?
His carelessness was his undoing.
He'd never forgive himself.
What was there to do now?
What did it matter?
He felt something inside him begin to crack. For the first time in his life, he had failed. And now that Watanuki was gone…what was there for him anymore?
"Now he's falling hard. He feels the falling dark…."
Now his head felt heavy, his body felt like lead, his mind felt heavy. Everything…numb. His vision was bleary. Guided by some unknown hand in the early moments of the day, he dragged himself off the porch and into backyard. Was it his delirious state or perhaps a trick of the morning light…? The sakura tree, in bloom…in autumn? But it looked so inviting and cheerful. The sakura petals. Flying, floating in the chilled night air. Ghostly apparitions in themselves…
He wandered without thinking to the tree. Feeling physically and emotionally empty and exhausted, his body shut itself down, and almost immediately he was lost in his own head once again.
But usually dreamless sleep was not his destination.
Sakura petals. Flying, floating in the warm night air. A grassy hill. A warm gentle breeze. And a figure. Clad in a dark blue. He'd know those glasses anywhere.