Ghostsight
20th August 2008
Series: The Seer
Summary: Catching the thief red-handed. Love to profiterole and Anyjen for the alpha and beta reading.
Warnings: Conversations, implications, hidden hints and some Japanese words.

"You said you'd wait!" Sorata scolded, stomping into the room and right up into Watanuki's face.

"Teme," Shizuka swore, heart thumping in his throat. "Now what have you done?" Watanuki's gently glowing form wavered in Shizuka's Sight and the monk almost panicked. "Watanuki?"

The noble replied in a faux off-hand manner, I didn't think it would work so quickly nor so well. I was just testing things out since I hadn't done this in so long. But something's changed. His mouth moved when he spoke but Shizuka was certain he heard his master's voice in his head.

"I don't care if something's changed or your hair turned pink!" Sorata hissed, "You said you would wait." He blinked and suddenly his temper bled away. He backed up a pace and worriedly asked, "Ne, how come I can see you so clearly?" Puzzled, he met Watanuki's gaze. "I was only just able to see you the last time you did this." He glanced around, making the hand-seal for Sight. "And you're not… do you see anything watching you?"

No. Watanuki shook his head, looking around. No smoke or critters, no paths or doors… nothing. Sounding amazed he looked at Shizuka, Is this your doing?

"Probably," Shizuka muttered, his heart rate finally slowing down. He sauntered over to the bed and found his master's body still and quiet, only just barely breathing and in a state of comatose. Looking back at Watanuki over his shoulder, "I don't like this."

"Join the family," Sorata sarcastically put in, temper making a come-back. He rounded on his boss, "You are the most stubborn, bull-headed-- Hey! Where do you think you're going?!"

Away from you. Watanuki walked through a wall but Shizuka could still hear plain as day as though he were still only an arm's length away. Do you think I'm going to stick around to be lectured? We're wasting time.

Following him, but through the door way, Sorata continued to complain.

But the monk agreed. They were wasting valuable time indeed for no one, no matter their talent or ability, could leave their body for an extended period of time. And at the least sign of anything going wrong, he would use his soul to pull Watanuki back into his proper body. Hell, if he needed to, he would pull his master into his own body and physically get the foolish noble back.

Soul-Spelling was a Doumeki family skill; he could siphon off portions of his own soul for supplementing his magic… so he sure as hell knew how to contain one.

Alone with the body, Shizuka could not resist biting his finger open then reaching with the blood to trace a sigil onto Watanuki's forehead, murmuring the appropriate spell. Done, he stood and went after his master's disembodied soul.

In the suite common room Jason watched in confusion as Sorata continued to rant, staring blankly in the direction Sorata's eyes were trained. Sorata was speaking Japanese on top of that, and the Englishman turned on Shizuka when he emerged from the bedroom,

"What the hell is going on?"

Shizuka blankly explained, "Your idiot cousin separated from his body."

Watanuki yelled, Who are you calling an idiot!

"Oh," Jason frowned. "Again?"

Shizuka didn't like that sound of that tone; this having happened in the past made him worry. Not to mention that question Sorata had asked about things in the area –were they drawn to Watanuki in his soul state?

Turning to address the general area where Sorata was lecturing, Jason announced, "I'm so going to thwack you over the head for this, you hard-headed little brat, don't think I won't."

"That's what I said!" Sorata complained, back in English. "He's stubborn and bull-headed and…"

Oh here we go… Watanuki rolled his eyes.

Shizuka was already out of his hakama and checking his weapons and braces. He stamped down on his temper; the sigil would suffice for now. Ready, he pulled up his half mask and began to spell-cast, pulling the light to bend around him, casting the first of his cloaking spells.

Jason startled, eyes going wide. "Doumeki?" He blinked again, "Where'd you go? I swear the guy was only just standing here…"

What did you do to yourself? Watanuki was asking.

"Light bending," Sorata explained with a grunt, "He's using magic to turn the reflection of light around himself; it's a form of cloaking. He's pretty good."

"Watanuki," Shizuka gestured upward toward the ceiling, "Come on." He jumped up, pushing his spirit force into his feet for that extra boost, knocking loose the panelling he'd taken to using and catching it in his hands as he landed on the roof scaffold above.

Watanuki jumped, passing right through the wood and up into the scaffolding portion between the ceiling and roof to join the monk. He stepped onto a beam nearby, grumbling, You'd think he was the boss of us the way he orders me around…

Ignoring him, the monk poked his head back down to address the two left behind, "Sorata, I'll leave the main sections of the palace to you. Watanuki and I will deal with the first and second circle." The priest nodded and Shizuka turned to Jason and politely inclined his head, "Good night. We'll share our findings with you in the morning. Rest well."

So saying, he withdrew and replaced the wood panelling then turned to his eerily glowing master… whose expression had flickered with some unrecognisable emotion. Wanting to move past the moment, and considering Watanuki's earlier surprise at his light-bending, he asked curiously,

"How do I appear to you?"

Watanuki hesitated a moment but then replied, Cloudy. Like I'm looking at you through glass… and… gray-toned. He frowned. I can't see colour when I'm like this. I don't know why. He wondered, Maybe all ghosts are colour-blind since we don't have eyes…? He childishly curled the index finger and thumb of both hands over his ghostly eyes. Shizuka stared flatly and, catching that, the Seer dropped his hands and pouted, I was just thinking aloud, you don't need to stare at me in that weird way of yours.

"Ahou." Shizuka muttered the word for idiot in Japanese, turning to lead the way.

Watanuki predictably raged after him, What did you say?!

There. Shizuka indicated.

Watanuki looked at him in surprise, I can hear you in my head. How did you do that?

It's because you're my master, the monk vaguely replied, not looking at him nor wanting to continue this thread in the conversation. The monks of my Order know how to form bonds with their masters to always know where they are and if they're safe. He shrugged, I just happen to be strong enough to do this now.

And that was partially true. Though, it usually took a longer amount of time and theirs had started earlier, the binding of awareness that came one-sided from a monk to his master. However, these bonds certainly did not form in the shape of soul-sharing or blood-binding as theirs had. But Watanuki didn't know what Shizuka had done, nor did he understand the changes in himself to identify it alone –there was no harm in telling a partial truth.

I see. Watanuki frowned, puzzled, as though sensing there was more to this than was being said. But he let it go. Where are we?

The King's treasure hall, Shizuka answered. This is where the artefacts the King most admires are displayed on the wall. Almost all the missing items were taken from here. Some guests are allowed in this particular area where the third circle opens into the second. And at night, if you're already within this area of the palace, it's easiest to move around because the guards and barriers don't start until there, he pointed to one side then toward the opposite end of the hall, and there. The stone statues of alligators mark the guard posts.

This particular part of the palace had an open ceiling area to give the impression of space. This allowed them to look directly down into the hall from high above. Below them, the archway separating the second circle hall from the third was especially large.

And you noticed this after only a night's surveillance? Watanuki blinked at him. Then he frowned slightly and only just conceded, You're not bad.

Neither is she. Shizuka commented, watching the opposite end of the hall. Watanuki followed his line of sight.

Who…? A dark-clad form vaulted skilfully along from one scaffold beam to the next. Watanuki smiled and said with satisfaction, The thief. My is she daring, to come out tonight. Look! I knew it would be Sia!

Yes. He noticed something. Do you sense anything different about her?

Hm? Oh, yes. Watanuki squinted at her, She looks like she has a touch of blooded aura to her. But it's not hers. A pause then, It's Prince Amko's. I think she was just with him. Huh! I bet it's an alibi.

She'd have needed it considering she's after the mirror of Erdeni, Shizuka watched the young woman, who looked so much like her mother to almost be mistaken as a younger sister. The contrast of Mardea's appearance of age rose in the monk's mind once more.

What? Is it special? He paused then demanded, How do you know that's what she's here for? Watanuki watched the young woman slip cleverly along the ceiling scaffolding, her necklace flashing as she passed the alligator statues barring the second circle halls and crossed into the third. And what's with her necklace? Did you see that reaction? It looks odd.

It's a charm which only the concubines wear. I read about it in their scrolls, but no one these days seem to know how it works anymore. Mardea wears a different necklace taken from the same source. I read about it today; I'll tell you later. They watched the girl move slowly and steadily, agilely getting past the posted guards. Shizuka added, I don't think she knows its purpose either. I sensed its residue when I was first here. It was because of it that I was even able to find her.

Watanuki blinked at him, I see. I did wonder a little how you found her between a palace so big and not being able to See as strongly as I do.

Aah. Shizuka shifted, moving forward, and ordered, talk as we move.

No need to be bossy, Watanuki complained, following. Hey, how'd you know she's going for the mirror, you didn't answer me!

Beauty. Shizuka watched Sia hook her legs over a scaffold and reach, upside down, toward the suspended little mirror on the wall. She seems to be attracted to stealing items linked to the great beauties of the past. Watanuki nodded, frowning a little as he thought back over the missing items they'd researched. But she's no sorceress. I believe she doesn't know how to use the items she steals.

Is that why we're not catching her now? Watanuki asked. Because we want to see where she's going with it? He paused. Mardea. It's Mardea. The aura that you followed back from Sia that first night led you to the King's concubine.

Yes. But we should follow her to confirm our suspicions and see if anything else happens. Shizuka added, But on that score, I'm going to ask you to follow her and relay pertinent information. In this form, distance won't matter so much as long as we're not too far away from each other. He glanced at his master, sidelong. Can you do that?

You're bossy. Watanuki grumbled. But you're right. I can't be sensed in this form whereas you might be. What will you be doing in the meantime?

Following you. Sia had unhooked the mirror and was stowing it away in a pouch at her lower back.

Watanuki blinked, Well why don't you just come with me?

Because you can get closer, the monk reasoned. I said I'd follow you, not her. She's not much concern to me now. But you are.

Shaking his head Watanuki snapped, Whatever. He followed Sia when she moved on sneaking along the scaffolding once more, leaving Shizuka hiding at his perch. You know, we might even get to find out where the rest of what she's taken has been put…

We might. When Watanuki's faint glow disappeared around a bend, he deemed it far enough of an allowance and moved after them.

He could trust his master to do this; just not keep himself safe the whole time. Then the bond pulled at him a little, a desolate little echo in his chest that made him want to close the gap. At least Watanuki wouldn't feel it, was all he could think on that. Without a part of Watanuki in himself, he remained bound to his master but not his master to him. But that was how it should be.

Does any of this and your knowledge of Sia have anything to do with the research you were doing on her and Mardea earlier today? Watanuki asked, his 'voice' still clear as day in the monk's head.

Yes. I'll tell you later, I said. He berated lightly, Now pay attention to what you're doing.

I am! Watanuki retorted, a little too quickly.

No, you're not. He couldn't very well point out he'd sensed his master had a momentary lapse of corporeal control and had almost slipped down through the wood of the scaffolding he traversed. You're talking to me, aren't you?

Fine, the noble snapped. I'm ignoring you.

Shizuka followed, resisting the urge to smile.

The silence didn't last for very long, Watanuki diligently relaying all of Sia's actions once she got to her mother's suite. He relayed the conversation, fairly bland and unremarkable if overheard. But the implications added another grain of truth to the collection of information they had compiled. Once they'd established where the mirror had been kept along with the other stolen items, Watanuki returned to Shizuka.

"You need to get back to your body," Shizuka said quietly, forgoing mind-speech. "Go ahead, I'll follow in a few minutes."

What are you planning to do? Watanuki asked, not moving. You're not going to do something dangerous are you?

"No." Shizuka couldn't resist adding, "That's your job."

Hmph. Watanuki moved quickly away, not bothering with even a semi-corporeal form and simply going through everything, hopping lightly from beam to beam of the scaffolding.

Shizuka waited.

Just as Watanuki was about to turn a bend and head out of sight, he stopped and looked back. A small frown marred his face as he watched the monk. After a long moment he finally huffed again and turned away.

Predictable. But only in some ways, Shizuka realised. He smiled faintly and turned to complete his task.

TBC.

Author Notes:

I'm so sorry that I still haven't managed to reply to people's reviews! I still read them since I get them all by email (I only delete them once I've replied) but I realise now that I am probably not going to be able to go back and answer them anymore. By the time I have the chance, several chapters will be up and there'll be over a hundred reviews I haven't replied to –I can't answer all that!

On the story: I realise it's been slow for the last two chapters. Lonewolfe mentioned the chapters are short; actually, they're longer. All my chapters except for the past four have been under 45kb but recently the chapters have been a minimum of 50kb. The scenes themselves are slow, is what's going on, I think. I apologise for that. It's not obvious right now why I wrote it that way but it needs to be like that and I have tried to make it clear that there won't be romantic action between Watanuki and Doumeki for a long while. There's too much story going on for them to get to romance too quickly..! It may put you off because I said this story would be eventual DouWata but the fact is its going to take a while; these two aren't even communicating well yet.

I'll be working on the promised drabble in a few weeks, when I get back from holiday. Meanwhile, I apologise for the delay in updating. I logged on and only managed to check my LJ and make a single post before an electricity blackout cut the internet connection. It was late at night… I needed to go to bed… I was travelling the next day. So anyway, I can't be held completely accountable.