Interesting Company
Series: The Seer
Summary: Shizuka settles in aboard the Dancing Dragon. If he thought his first night was interesting, it's likely nothing compared to the first day.
Warnings: Original characters (or so you think), a majorly irritable Watanuki (what else is new?), magic-talk and spell-casting (my favourite)… which will hopefully result in comments or reviews for me (best of all).

Despite being thoroughly tired out and getting to spend his first night on a sinfully soft futon, Shizuka couldn't get the knowledge of Watanuki's power out of his head.

He remained unmoving with eyes shut, on his back and one arm up with the hand casually under his head pillow where fingers curled easily around a hidden blade.

Sometimes he'd be distracted by the new sftate of being allowed to call his Master by his surname without suffix, but it never held his attention for long… his mind always wandered back to what it meant for his Master being able to heal himself.

The Council had warned him their Lord had Power, a great but uncertain amount. But it was obvious they knew nothing, repeating words from local Seers who had likely attempted to sound mysterious yet knowledgeable, providing information on a topic that Watanuki had likely refused to discuss with them.

Controlling his breathing, maintaining the image of sleep, the monk pondered this latest development.

Any kind of magic, a will-fuelled bending of the natural and supernatural world, always exacted a price. It took a trade of some kind, usually in the form of the spiritual energy a living being naturally generated –any mage knew that. Restoration was the easiest form of magic, to put back together something which had been, all the pieces required all lay before a spell-caster. Inanimate objects did not have Life, did not have a beating heart or life-force filled blood, and held a single finite shape.

A living body was another story.

To re-weave the individual cells which had been torn and put together, never put back, a form which always changed and grew… this was the challenge of healing. Natural self-healing was something of an after-effect of having a great amount of magical energy, at its best in a mage fully-recharged and the body naturally spending that stored source of energy to mend itself. It speeded up the natural process…

It certainly didn't easily push to patch a person up in the space of time it took to change one's clothes.

Frustrated, Shizuka turned over onto his side and sighed into his pillow… and breathed in the faintly lingering and startling scent of mint and musk. Surprised, he lifted his head and slit-eyed peered down at the pristine white of the bedding. Was that…? He took another curious sniff… yes, it was.

Oh dear.

With yet another sigh, the monk put his head down, mind now completely distracted by the fact he was sleeping on his interesting Master's former bedding. It called to mind a possibly impossible sweet image of the prickly noble, quiet and child-like in slumber; Watanuki's pale face would be devoid of the dark stains beneath his eyes and that seemingly-permanent crease between his brows would be non-existent. The young Lord would be completely relaxed, trusting and… safe.

Safe.

His Lord would be safe, he would see to that. And somehow the conjuring of that ideal circumstance together with a self-belief that some had told him they thought bordered on arrogance, combined to bring a satisfied little smile to Shizuka's face… and finally nudged him just that small distance into sleep.

Shizuka knew the moment Watanuki stepped from his bed.

He knew when his Lord dressed, his actions echoing faintly over the charmed floor and to the monk lying as still as ever and seemingly only asleep. His senses were getting used to staying in tune with his Master. The process usually took a few days, a mental training to focus on his subject… well, this was much better.

When Watanuki stepped almost silently from his room, Shizuka cracked open one eye to observe him. The young Lord quietly fetched and brought close a wood and paper dressing screen, silently unfolding it to separate where Shizuka slept from the rest of the room. He froze when he caught sight of Shizuka staring up at him.

"Good morning," he said softly. "It's still early. I'll remain here and work, like I promised. You should get more sleep."

Shizuka studied Watanuki's face a few moments longer before he shut his eye and heaved a soft exhale, willing himself to relax. He sensed Watanuki continue at his task, felt the shadow the screen cast once it was set in place, and mentally strengthened his charms across the ship. Should he fall asleep and any danger arise, he would be awakened immediately to deal with it.

The soft movements, naturally quiet instead of glaringly subdued made a nice lull to Shizuka. There came an occasional scratching of a quill or creak of leather book-binding, the intermittent wafts of herb scents.

Through his all, Shizuka dozed, getting a little more rest until finally Jason opened the cabin door to enter and the light flooded the cabin fully. He got to his feet.

Jason smiled deviously at catching him folding his bedding, "Shouldn't you be sleeping on Kimi's bedroom floor?"

"That is not my name, you aggravating imbecile," Watanuki contradicted sternly.

"It's better than mispronouncing your name," Jason returned calmly, eyes shining with knowing amusement as he winked at Shizuka. He marched over to the main table and sat down uninvited. "Doumeki-kun is annoyed with me for not saying your name correctly, too…"

"What?" Watanuki hissed, eyes narrowing. "And so you choose another name you can pronounce?" He rolled his eyes, "More importantly, does it mean nothing to you when I'm annoyed with you?"

"Well of course it means something," Jason replied. He jerked a thumb at Shizuka, "But he's scarier."

"Do you even know what 'kimi' means in Japanese?!" Watanuki asked, brows drawing together in annoyance.

"I do believe it means 'you' which," Jason tapped his chin with one finger, "I found rather funny because you had a little half Japanese friend named Yuu and yet it meant something so different…"

Watching them, Shizuka wondered how his Master had remained so quiet this morning when he was, interacting with other people, so very boisterous.

"My mother--" Watanuki sputtered. He turned away from his morning tea, hands waving in the air, face turning pink.

"Yes, Auntie did call you Kimi-chan and you know what? We're family!" Jason grinned, "And I seem to recall referring to you as 'Kimi' when we were kids."

Watanuki pointed accusingly at him and bared his teeth, "Until you learned what it meant!"

"Nothing I ever do pleases you," Jason lamented dramatically, turning away to lay the back of one hand over his forehead in a theatrical pose. Watanuki folded his arms and began to tap his foot. "I mispronounce your name, I butcher it and insult you…" he sighed, "I will never be good enough."

Shizuka was certain that there was a vein throbbing at his Master's temple, and squelched the urge to ask after it. He was enjoying the show far too much to actually join in. For now.

"Must you be so frustrating?" Watanuki demanded, fists clenched. But in the next moment, with a sound of resigned frustration, he unfurled his hands and went back to his tea.

"Well then, shall I call you Hiro-chan?" Jason clasped his hands together by his cheek, elbows together, and curled his shoulders then gave a horrible girlish wiggle. In a syrupy voice he declared, "My hero!"

"Shut up, you homosexual weirdo!" Watanuki rolled his eyes, pouring the hot water. "I should have known you had strange ideas in mind suggesting my bodyguard sleep in my room." He brought the tea to the table and growled, "That's the most unabashed flouting of propriety I have ever heard you say!"

Jason grinned up at him and prodded, "Ever?"

"Well, you do seem to regularly outdo yourself, you unsociable lout," Watanuki replied, pouring the drinks.

Jason ignored his cousin and turned to Shizuka, saying, "Kimi here, he's a stickler for rules. But don't let it put you off." His eyes twinkled, and Shizuka considered the point Watanuki had just made about Jason's… tendencies. "He's a big softie at heart, really."

It wouldn't and he'd thought as much, Shizuka inwardly supposed to Jason's two statements. But he wanted to keep his hide intact, thanks, and said nothing. Instead, he enjoyed the view of that familiar red line creeping up Watanuki-sama's neck...

"And how can you tell?" the young Lord growled. "You've provoked my temper almost every day we've ever spent together. On good days I feel like avoiding you--"

"But he serves me tea every morning anyway," Jason stage-whispered to Shizuka.

"Drink up," Watanuki ordered as he took a seat. He grumbled, "Sometimes I honestly wonder what I did in my previous life to deserve this…"

And what did I? Shizuka pondered.

"The only reason I know anything at all is because Kim talked to me," Jason said, an unbecomingly solemn expression on his face. "Everything I know is something he told me, so you can probably imagine what he really knows besides what he has merely admitted to me."

"I see," Shizuka acknowledged. Indeed. Even he, having undergone training, would probably quickly exhaust all that he knew before long. He said quietly, "There are some things I might be able to explain, but not a lot." He shrugged, "My training did cover a good portion of spirit warding… but my lessons stopped just a little bit over my ability."

"Huh?" Jason tilted his head, puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"

Shizuka, for once, begrudged the system which had kept him from learning further. "If I am only as powerful as a certain level, there is no point in teaching me further than I can possibly manage. I suppose they figure that if I ever did encounter such powerful beings, I would be killed anyway. No point in knowing things which I can't practice. It would breed frustration."

"Hm," Jason hummed. "I guess it would be like teaching someone like me about spirits; I don't have any spirit force."

"Similar," Shizuka agreed with a slight nod.

"Is there a way that you can…" the Englishman gestured helplessly, "find a way to learn more?"

"I have a few ideas in mind," Shizuka admitted. "But for the moment, I can manage things. I will call for appropriate assistance shortly before it becomes necessary."

"Do you think you can deal with this?" Jason asked quietly, nervousness showing briefly on his face.

"I cannot confirm on something I don't know," Shizuka dodged with a polite inclination of his head. "But for the moment, with what I know and where he is now, I believe I can."

Jason was quiet for a long moment. Finally, his goofy grin returned, albeit slowly. He companionably patted Shizuka on the shoulder, "Well, good luck then."

He watched the Englishman leave, remained sitting at the table in Watanuki's cabin. His Master was busy with something in his bedroom and the monk waiting patiently for him to re-emerge, another cup of tea in hand, warming his skin.

Taking a sip, he slid a look at the chest in the corner of the room –his corner of the room— which contained his futon. The futon which, he realise now, had initiated his senses to the scent clinging to everything in this room. And there had been a gentle touch of it in the air earlier when Watanuki had bent near him to serve him his morning tea.

Mint and musk.

Hm. Distractions.

The bedroom door swung open, Watanuki strolling out looking solemn and wary. Shizuka waited patiently, expecting that perhaps there might be some kind of prideful outburst of not needing to be taken care of, maybe a jab at the fact he had almost allowed his Master to be hit by a curse on the first day.

Thinking back, he really hoped that never came out in conversation again.

"Now what?" Watanuki asked shortly, temper fraying already.

"Let us sit and talk," Shizuka said, resisting his initial urge to say something sarcastic.

"I thought about what we discussed last night," the Seer muttered, posture defensive as he sat. "I didn't do anything wrong and I think I took darn good care of myself so--"

"You were quite impressive, actually," Shizuka murmured.

"I certainly hope I was," Watanuki muttered to himself, looking a little surprised but proud, his cheeks and ears turning ever so slightly pink.

"I am hoping that you might allow me to teach you more, however," Shizuka said, polite in speech and hoping that good manners would keep this discussion from degenerating into a tantrum on his Master's part. He could tell the young man didn't particularly want his gift; he avoided almost everything he could about it.

"What more?" Watanuki asked, tone curt and expression quite guarded.

"Fighting with spirit force," Shizuka replied. "You're good with weapons and that is more than I could have hoped for. I would very much like to make you better than 'quite impressive' if you will allow me."

"I don't want to--"

"The less you know and the more it grows," Shizuka interrupted softly, "The more likely you will be to hurt those around you. And they cannot heal the way you do."

Watanuki fell silent.

"Do not be selfish, Watanuki," Shizuka reprimanded sternly, taking advantage of the silence. "I was sent here to protect you not because the Council wishes to meddle." He narrowed his eyes when Watanuki lowered his head, chunks of that ebony hair obscuring stormy azure eyes. "I was sent here because there are hopes and dreams pinned on you."

There passed long minutes of silence while Shizuka finished his tea. He studied his Master, the way Watanuki had clenched his fist on the table, the way those shoulders slumped yet remained stiff. He sighed softly. He had probably been a little unfair.

He was about to say something in apology for his tone, if not his words, when Watanuki stirred, "I know." Shizuka cocked his head, patiently waiting. "I know that there are people who depend on me." He seemed to curl a little in on himself, "I just wish they didn't."

Taken aback, Shizuka blinked, "You don't want people to care about you and your welfare?"

"I don't want the responsibility," Watanuki corrected softly. "You've only been here a day, you don't quite grasp how bad this is. How bad my--" He shook his head as he cut himself off. With a quick shiver, eyes still shaded, Watanuki's voice suddenly changed, "Oh, I apologise, Doumeki-kun." Shizuka narrowed his eyes at the careful, polite tone, "I don't know what I am saying. Of course I will do all that I can. But I am not certain that you are the person who should decide such things."

"You cannot expect me to do my job--"

"I did not hire you," Watanuki said firmly, ice in his voice. Politely he continued, "What you do with your time is your concern. I do not wish to hear what you think about my powers or what should be done. All I ask…" His voice almost cracked there, the monk noticed, "Is that you do not allow yourself to be killed because of me."

The pieces fell into place suddenly and Shizuka was angry. But then again… he'd heard that wistful note in Watanuki's voice earlier. He'd seen the way his Master watched the crewmen, remembered the way his Master had gone and hidden himself away in his cabin before the men began trooping off deck the last time they'd been anchored.

He understood. Suddenly, he knew what it was that Watanuki needed.

The monk calmly announced, "That isn't going to be possible, Master." Watanuki tensed but the monk pushed on, "You see, what makes my Order so very special, the reason why it costs so much to hire one of us, why we are so famous and why I am trying so hard to protect you… is because if you die, my life is forfeit."

With a gasp, Watanuki's head snapped up and those blue eyes, so unbecomingly wet with suppressed tears, met his own gaze.

"So you must understand," Shizuka said quietly, "There is one more life in the balance. I need you to work hard. For both our sakes."

Watanuki's head bowed again, defeat in every line. But then there ghosted the slightest hint of a smile on his lips before he softly said with a touch of relief in his tone, "I will do everything I can."

TBC