Revelations
12th May 2009
Series: The Seer
Summary: Revelations, as the title announces, and speculations make things complicated. Um... info-dump ahead; lots of ends get tied up and explained. Some won't be, of course, because we don't get to find out all the truths just yet.
Warnings: Implied homosexuality, bad language and some violence.

--

"You are the third point in the three-point ward," Shizuka guessed.

"Yes," Jason smiled proudly. He glanced over at his red-faced cousin. "You should have seen the look on Kim's face when the… the Lady presented him with his options." Thoughtfully, he tapped his chin, "I think you even had that ridiculous notion in your head that I wouldn't have wanted to do it."

"I didn't…" Watanuki started, looking supremely uncomfortable. "It's just that we didn't really have much of a choice." He glanced at Shizuka, "Sort of." With a wince he defended, "It seemed like the perfect idea at the time."

"Don't tell me you're still feeling guilty about it?" Jason grinned and turned to Shizuka, "I'm actually quite proud of it. My magic finally had some use."

"Did She say anything more about your power?" the monk asked.

Jason shook his head, "Nope. Only that it is wild and untamed, and that telling us any more would cost too much from us and, at the time, we already had so much more to think about." He shrugged, "The way she put it, we'd need what we had for what was to come but nothing really ever did happen until months later when we met up with you." He turned back to teasing his cousin.

Shizuka sat back, mulling over what he had been told: that the three point ward of which Watanuki's twin blades made up two, Jason Astor made the third.

The spell had been constructed in a rather flimsy manner with only three points, the minimum required to support the spell… almost as though only temporary. This spoke volumes to the monk as to what this mysterious Lady knew of Watanuki and the noble's powers. It also bothered him because with the way everyone spoke of her; he had taken to expecting she knew more than she let on and had more power that she revealed. Narrowing his eyes, he tried to set aside his feelings of unease. It came automatic to him to suspect her regardless of whether or not she had helped Watanuki. Her behaviour suggested she dealt in trade but that she could just as easily do them more damage than good… especially after what that damn Tortoise had said.

The Butterfly Witch.

"What did you say?" Watanuki asked, startled. Shizuka blinked at him, not wanting to jump to the obvious conclusion he must have muttered the words aloud. His eyes narrowed as though reading the monk's mind and he stiffly repeated, "What. Did you. Say."

Reluctantly, Shizuka repeated, "The Butterfly Witch."

"Where did you hear that name?" Jason asked quietly, no longer amused or teasing.

"Do you know who she is?" Shizuka countered.

"The Lady," Watanuki answered quickly, stressing the pronoun with heavy implication, and repeated, "Where did you hear that name?"

"From the Tortoise." Shizuka watched Watanuki's face fall.

"You said he was keeping the ship safe from the Parade, right?" Jason asked, glancing at Watanuki then staring hard at the monk.

"Yes." He watched his master carefully as he spoke, while answered Jason's question, "His precise words were, 'that Butterfly Witch named this task in return for something I asked of her. Always fair, always a nuisance.'" Jason nodded and Watanuki twisted his fingers together. He asked, prodding Watanuki, "Am I missing something?"

"Not really," the noble shrugged, looking irritated now, "She's just doing her job. She exacted a price but don't ask me why she asked for that."

Jason spoke up softly, "Maybe it was because she had a balance to settle." Watanuki looked at him and he shrugged, "Maybe she hasn't been overcharging us as much as we thought."

For a moment, Watanuki seemed apprehensive but then he breathed deep and let it out slowly, calming and settling better. "I suppose so. But I don't think she'd answer us even if we asked."

Shizuka didn't think she would. Especially since he wasn't yet certain the Tortoise's death should have been the intended result. Such an imbalance in the world would not go unnoticed, he was sure. Make no mistake he was glad the creature was dead, but there would be repercussions despite it being a kill in self defence.

"We have other more important questions to ask anyway," the monk said. Jason and Watanuki looked at him oddly, and he explained, "Such a creature must have made friends and allies in its long life. That Sorata killed him in self-defence might be of no relevance; it's probable we've earned ourselves a focus of revenge." Watanuki looked startled and Jason turned grim. "You thought so as well?"

"Yes," Jason murmured. "I had just hoped I was wrong."

"Let's not worry about what bridges we've yet to arrive at," Watanuki said firmly. His cheeks flushed with indignant colour and he ranted, "How dare that ridiculous creature threaten my life and then bring down revenge on us?" Shizuka wondered if this might be further evidence of his and Sorata's highly likely suspicions. "Honestly. He brings that much trouble alive and continues to bother us even in death." But suddenly his face twisted with compassion, "He… he didn't deserve to be killed but…" Expression turning guilty and voice going small, "It happened in self defence."

"Do not tell me you are feeling guilty Urashima got his power-hungry self killed," Shizuka flatly stated. "He made his own choices and so did Sorata. Do not blame yourself, you silly noble."

"What did you call me?!" Watanuki snapped. "Do not call me silly when you're the one who went out to face him!"

"I'll call that Tortoise whatever I damn well think he is," Shizuka narrowed his eyes, voice bland and low. "And I will do the same to you when you get those ridiculous thoughts in your head."

"My thoughts are not ridiculous!" Watanuki argued vehemently, leaning a bit over the table, eyes flashing beautifully.

"They are, more often that I would have expected," Shizuka replied in considering tone.

"What?!" Watanuki leapt to his feet and slammed his hands down on the table, leaning in close enough that Shizuka could feel the noble's breath on his skin. "I'm here worrying about you facing someone dangerous and you go telling me you think I'm thinking ridiculous things?"

"I said I thought it was ridiculous you blamed yourself," Shizuka commented calmly, "Are you not able to keep up with the conversation?"

"I'm keeping up just fine with the conversation!" Watanuki shrieked. "I'm just saying you should not have to put yourself in danger and doing so is just as stupid as your idea I should not feel guilty!"

The noble panted breathlessly, cheeks red with high, angry colour, and eyes sparkling with emotion –putting very interesting images into Shizuka's brain. But the monk remained silent, staring.

A long moment later, Watanuki sat down, his own words twisting over themselves as his fingers did on the table, head falling because finally… it all lent more credence to the fact that none of it was stupid at all; it wasn't stupid to face danger and it wasn't stupid that Shizuka should tell him not to feel guilty or blame himself.

And such a conclusion threw off Watanuki's very strong sense of compassion, the monk knew.

Sadness filtered into Shizuka's chest and spurred him to move, to slowly stand, moving out of his chair and closer to Watanuki's side. He pulled back the chair next to the noble and took it, settling there and laying a comforting hand over Watanuki's on the table. "You're entitled to feel as you do for his death," he murmured softly. "But I will not have you feel guilty because he made his choices and had to die for the consequences. He knew the risks, he took responsibility for them. And you taking that idea of responsibility away from him makes his death meaningless."

Watanuki turned toward him and his head jerked up, wide eyes meeting Shizuka's. They shone wetly, sad and conflicted.

"He was willing to fight for what he wanted," Shizuka explained gently, but his tone stayed firm and he looked straight into the noble's eyes to convey how much he believed his own words. "Do not let his choice, his strength, mean nothing now."

And as the noble absorbed that, he slumped slowly in his seat, his movements bringing his temple to rest on Shizuka's shoulder. His dark head bowed in quiet mourning for a creature that had done him nothing but harm and had died for his safety, because he understood what it meant to want.

Unable to help it, Shizuka bowed his own head with his own compassion for Watanuki's feelings and settled his cheek on the noble's crown, attention finally straying back to Jason, eyes meeting the Englishman's brightly shining eyes.

The support in those blue eyes reinforced his confidence and he accepted the permission Jason offered. But amidst that expression in Jason's eyes there also appeared a badly-hidden envy, a kind of wistfulness to it that made the monk realise Jason wished he could comfort Watanuki half so well. It was identifying those feelings that made him consider he was slowly and surely taking Watanuki away from Jason –and Jason had no one else. That last thought made him temper himself and his own wants, made him firm to let Watanuki make his own choices, and that he would do everything in his power to defend those choices. He would take nothing away from anyone, least of all Watanuki who had given him so much.

When Watanuki sighed and seemed to be getting a hold of himself, Shizuka asked, "Are you feeling better?" Watanuki, predictably, froze. An instant later, he leapt away to his feet, leaving the monk marvelling at the accomplishment when sitting so closely to him. Shizuka watched the noble freeze again in realization that he'd been vulnerable and dependent on the monk –the person he'd not wanted to bother. Aiming to distract, "Or are you having more of those ridiculous thoughts?"

"I am not so prone to ridiculousness!" Watanuki burst out, relief flashing briefly in his eyes.

"Do calm down, cousin," Jason suggested, smiling. "You'll pop a blood vessel someday."

"I wonder whose fault that would be!" Watanuki snapped, glaring at Shizuka, then he huffed but sat back down anyway –beside his cousin. He waved madly in the monk's direction, "I swear he'll be the death of me."

"Hm?" Jason idly hummed, "Think so?"

"Yes!" Watanuki growled and grumbled, "Make me lose my mind, driving me to distraction, doing all sorts of inappropriate things and saying things too intimate for repetition," His cheeks and nose flushed with colour, high, pink and embarrassed. And Jason grinned for such a long moment that Watanuki finally asked, "What are you so amused about anyway?"

"Oh, nothing," Jason grinned, if possible, even wider, "Just imagining the day you say those precise words again with a different subject in mind."

Shizuka couldn't agree more, absolutely not meeting eyes with the sly Englishman, that rascal. But Watanuki, the poor noble, could only blink with confusion… and the monk, for the first time, realised that his 'master' might possibly be innocent in the ways of carnal pleasure. The thought made him feel fuzzily warm, a rising wave of fierce possessiveness cresting so rapidly he thought his chest might need to expand to contain it.

"What?" Watanuki finally asked, puzzled and shooting Shizuka an odd look for the overflow of emotions. Shizuka tried to reign it in though he didn't want to.

"Nothing, my dear," Jason said breezily, tossing a wink in Shizuka's direction, "Don't mind me. I'm being silly again."

Giving his cousin an odd look, Watanuki finally subsided, as quick to calm as he was to storm.

"This raises an important theory," Shizuka said, returning to the original point of the conversation.

"Which is?" Watanuki asked, eyes narrowed.

"Before I get into that, there is another matter that first needs attention," Shizuka turned to Jason. "Your name." Jason returned the stare for a long moment, Watanuki shifting in his seat. After letting the silence settle, he finally asked, "Were you ever called Faye?"

With a resigned sigh, Jason admitted, "Yes."

Shizuka blinked. "Isn't it a girl's name?"

"Is that all you can ask?!" Watanuki gasped. Shizuka levelled a flat look at him and the noble snapped his mouth shut.

Jason shrugged, "It's a boy's too, in some parts of England."

"Hn." Shizuka shook his head, tasting the name on his tongue. "Faye. Is that what you called him while you were growing up?" He darted a look at the nervous noble.

"Yes." Watanuki looked ill at ease, eyes falling to the table.

Jason shrugged. "But never in front of people." He glanced at his cousin. "Only he knew my parents knew my mother had given me that name, and everyone else had simply been told I had my father's name, Jason. It was the name on my birth certificate anyway."

"To protect you," Shizuka realised, and both cousins gave him an odd look though Watanuki's held something in it the monk didn't like. "The power of names," he murmured, and Watanuki knew it too. The question now was—why did Jason's mother ever feel the need to protect him? And who had told Watanuki about it?

Oblivious to these thoughts, Watanuki ranted, "And he really did call me Kimi when we were kids and for the longest time, too! And then my mother explained he was just rudely calling me 'you' in Japanese."

With a soft smile, Jason finished, "And then I just called him Kim." The monk raised a sceptic brow. "No, really, I did." He smiled oddly, "We were trying to get me to use his full name so no one else would pick it up. Then around about that time you joined us and insisted on the correct way of saying it, I gave up. I just couldn't pronounce it. You heard me, I sounded awful."

Shizuka shrugged then asked, "Did you ever go by your mother's surname?"

And here, when Jason frowned, the monk knew something was up. "I didn't really. Not exactly. But it was the name she gave me before I was born. She wrote about me in her journal, called me Faye. Called me her little Flowright baby." He looked up at Shizuka, "It wasn't until I was born that I was officially named as my father's son and heir, and as Jason Astor."

"Then your first name, the name of your blood line, is another True name," Shizuka muttered darkly. "You're not just Jason Astor. You're Faye Flowright."

Watanuki looked stricken. "It still applies? Even if it was given before he was born?"

"It was a name given truthfully and by his mother, no less." Nodding, Shizuka told Jason, "And as it's from your mother your power comes down from, the name she gave you belongs with the power; it's part of her legacy."

Jason blinked, "So that means…?"

"You will have to become Faye Flowright," Shizuka said, "You must be her child to fully accept the heritage she has passed down to you. Until now, you have only been your father's son."

"Hence the power of names," Jason realised, eyes widening. "I think I get it."

"Unfortunately," Shizuka said, turning to look at Watanuki, "It means Watanuki's protection will fail."

"What?" Jason breathed, startled.

"That was why I asked about the three-point ward," the monk clarified. "And with that suspicion confirmed, you accepting your mother's name even now weakens the protection you two cast over him. We will need a new point." Shizuka sighed, considering all the coming changes and not just those surrounding his noble but the noble's cousin. Oh, and the ship mates, he added, thinking of the new life in Arashi. He wearily rubbed his forehead and grumbled, "I have a headache."

Blinking, Watanuki looked up and a small frown creased his forehead. "Do you want some medicine?"

Jason began to smile, Shizuka noticed. "No, thank you." He paused then said, "I'd prefer tea."

Watanuki's brows slammed down over his eyes, tilted alarmingly. "What."

It was not a question but Shizuka answered anyway, "Tea. If you please."

Scowling fiercely, Watanuki opened his mouth --and with perfect timing, Shizuka rubbed tiredly at his forehead. Instantly, the mouth clicked shut and the young noble marched stiffly to the sideboard to make tea. Jason had broken out in a huge grin by this point and Shizuka could feel the headache dissipating.

"Tell me you love this job," Jason whispered to him.

Shizuka did no such undignified a thing as whisper. He inclined a quick nod instead.

"Completely bossy… utterly unreasonable… making so many demands…" Watanuki grumbled to himself as he marched back and forth from the little kitchen to the table, setting out English tea cups and saucers while the tea leaves steeped in the pot. When he finally sat, he glowered at Shizuka and tersely asked, "So you're proposing what, exactly?"

"Jason is the third point, this you've just admitted," Shizuka said quietly, "That's how you've been able to go out about on land; the twin swords and the Anchor, with the added protection of the stitched wards into your clothing." Watanuki nodded. "The arrangement has worked well thus far but I would like to propose I become your Anchor."

"But that's…" Flustered, Watanuki stumbled over his words, "I… don't know how to do that."

"I do." Shizuka looked over at Jason, "It's fairly simple, I've realised. And regardless of the changes Jason is facing, I would have still thought it best to transfer the third Point to me as I'm better able to defend myself." He angled a look at Watanuki, "Should anyone realise that your cousin is the third point of the ward, he will become a target. I do not think that is wise."

"What about when you leave?" Watanuki blurted out, turning suddenly bright red in the face when he realised what he'd said, slapping a hand over his lips.

Shizuka blinked at the noble, giving a flat stare and making clear his exasperation with the question. "I have already told you my answer to that."

Jason looked pleased by that reply; the words set off another wide grin. "You two get along so well."

With a choked gasp, Watanuki rounded on him, "I can't believe you just said that!"

"Shall we make the transfer before we disembark?" Shizuka asked Jason, ignoring the outburst.

"Don't I get a say in this?" Watanuki groaned.

The Englishman fixed on Shizuka, hesitated then nodded, "I think it would be best if you did take this. I'm kind of looking forward to the training you promised and if that is successful, I don't want to fail Kim with the responsibility of being an Anchor."

Watanuki looked about to scream again for being ignored but at Jason's words he blinked, looking stricken, and reached to lay a gentle hand on Jason's shoulder, "I… I didn't mean for the spell to be a burden."

"No, no!" Jason smiled, turning to look at his cousin, "I am honoured you chose me. I just didn't realise how much accepting my power would mean for the protection." He smiled, "I will always be glad and proud you let me do that. I was happy I could finally do something for you." The smile wilted, "But Doumeki is right. He should take this from me before something goes wrong."

Watanuki was already shaking his head, sadness filtering down through the bond despite the firm expression he wore. "I have always believed you were strong."

"I know." Jason smiled. "And if you ever feel guilty for one moment that you'd burdened me with being the third point, I will smack you. I'm still trying to get you to believe me when I say I do not at all blame you for everything that's happened, for taking me out to sea with you."

Watanuki went pale and dropped his eyes again.

Shizuka could feel a tight coil of anger wind its way around his gut; how dare Watanuki think such things? It bothered him that even now, the young noble couldn't speak up to negate that assumption… that guess… that fact. The emotion overrode the guilt for taking away what apparently had become something of a thing of pride for Jason. Stamping down on the urge to berate Watanuki, he concentrated on the matter at hand and on keeping the noble safe.

He paused and gave Jason an apologetic look, "Thank you."

"Whatever keeps Kim safe, yeah?" Jason said firmly. He managed to sound vaguely teasing when he prodded, "So are you sure you're strong enough to support the third Point?"

Shizuka didn't hesitate before answering; he knew what Jason meant to ask, "Yes."

And finally rolled his eyes, sharing a small smile with Jason because… well, Watanuki looked so confused.

--

Shizuka stood by Watanuki's side as around them brewed the chaos of crewmen preparing to dock. The long pier itself teemed with people and dock-masters calling instruction, Jason hanging precariously but cheerfully from the lower rigging, shouting things back.

"My cousin mentioned we'd be discussing things tonight over dinner," Watanuki said, solemn and regal in his semi-formal robes, twin wakizashi strapped at his lower back.

"Ahh," Shizuka replied, sliding his eyes sideways to his master.

"Can we put it off until tomorrow?" Watanuki's lips thinned. "There are some things I need to do in this city before we sit down and you turn my world upside down."

"This meeting is more for yours and Jason's benefit," the monk pointed out. "Are your errands really more important?"

"It's just one day," Watanuki reasoned.

"Fine." He paused. "You're not planning to take me with you on these errands, are you?"

"No," Watanuki kept his hands tucked into his robe sleeves but Shizuka could feel an echo of apprehension down the bond. "I just want a little time on my own."

Narrowing his eyes, Shizuka did not say that was probably the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard, considering they'd confirmed Aran had sent off a letter in South Africa where Doumeki had first boarded the ship, disclosing they were headed to Portugal today. Watanuki was not safe. Instead of arguing, he said nothing, turning to watch the dock and crew, keeping an eye out for slimy-looking people looking to stow-away or rob what they could. It did not escape his notice the Dancing Dragon was one of the most beautiful and best-kept ships in the harbour.

When Sorata and Arashi had a break, pausing to speak to their soldiers about security arrangements, Shizuka wandered over and let them know they'd be putting their discussion off.

"Works for me," Sorata admitted. He inclined his head at the monk, "There's this one passage in another of your ancestor's journals that fascinates me. You'd benefit from looking at it, as well, I think." Shizuka nodded then turned to Arashi. They stared at each other, silently challenging the other to speak up about the new life they both knew of. A long moment later, neither speaking, Sorata sighed, "You two, whatever your argument is, should settle your differences."

"Ahh," Shizuka agreed amiably, still staring.

He understood what might be worrying her, her child surrounded by so many powerful entities, and with Watanuki's true nature now tracking closer to the realm of Greatly Disturbing. A new life, innocent and receptive, with two powerful parents and exposed to a Whole Soul as well as to a monk of the Shirasagi… would likely be irrevocably changed simply by proximity. Into what, no one could tell.

"We'll be making arrangements for transporting the prisoners," Arashi spoke up, voice lowered dangerously, warningly.

"Do you require my assistance?"

"Yes," Arashi replied, looking like she would have preferred to say no.

"I'll be booking them passage," Sorata joined in. He grimaced and added, "I think it would be safer to send at least two of my soldiers back with them as escort. No telling what those three might attempt if they're left to normal human devices on an un-enchanted ship."

The monk turned to look at him, not liking this news. "Will the lack of manpower affect us?"

"I doubt it," Sorata replied. "Not with you here and getting stronger." Shizuka blinked. "Your spirit force is beginning to rise enough to match Watanuki's levels," the priest said, seemingly a bit surprised by the reaction, "Didn't you notice?"

Arashi smiled oddly, the expression looking rather too much like a smirk, "Or perhaps this link you spoke of some time ago is still clouding your judgement?" She raised a brow and glanced at his hand.

…specifically at his little finger.

Frowning, Shizuka answered, "I knew. I just hadn't realised you'd be able to tell."

Sorata shrugged, "Meh. Noticed it yesterday when you went to visit the arms chest. I thought it was Watanuki himself down there until I saw him up here on deck." He waved a hand in the air, "Anyway, I think a couple of the crew want to go home. We can send for replacements now and have them meet us in London."

Shizuka nodded, "I also sent off the message I mentioned. We will have another monk joining us in the next few days."

"Days?" Arashi asked, looking doubtful. "What if he's somewhere far away? He wouldn't be able to join us in just a few days."

"He's not too far away and he travels fast," Shizuka explained if rather vaguely. "He won't be long."

"Ii," Sorata smiled. "It'll be nice to meet one of your brothers." One of the crew waved and he returned a nod, "Excuse me, looks like one of the men found me a ship sailing for the far east we can book passage for the prisoners for." With a smile and wave, he jogged off to and down the gangplank.

"Are you going to tell him?" Arashi asked quietly.

"None of my business except that you take care of yourself," Shizuka replied. "Watanuki would not like it if something happened to you." She nodded, looking out over the crew once more. Toning his voice lower, he asked, "Are you keeping it?"

Arashi paused then looked up at him, "I want to."

He looked at her, understanding a little better than she perhaps would have preferred. "I will help for as long and as best I can."

"Thank you." She nodded and turned away—

And froze.

Shizuka noticed it at the same time, turning, eyes snapping to Watanuki as Arashi turned back around as well. Watanuki had moved to the railing, laying a hand on it, looking out over the crowd, clearly visible now to whoever cared to look.

And whoever it was who looked had power. Shizuka could feel the presence, the magic, without malice and without anger… but full of stark coldness. Matter of fact. Professional.

Shizuka narrowed his eyes, moving to Watanuki's side and looked out over the crowd. This did not feel right.

Glancing a quick look up at him, Watanuki asked, "Something wrong? You feel unsettled."

The joy of hearing the noble refer so easily to their connection could not outweigh the sudden withdrawal of the presence. Whoever it was, he had seen Shizuka too and was pulling away –the presence felt male.

"There's someone here," Shizuka said, eyes searching out over the crowd, trying to find something, anything, that he could hold on to, a person to watch out for. Nothing. Moments later, the presence disappeared and Arashi had come to join them.

"He's gone," she murmured, irritated.

"Tch!" Shizuka spat, annoyed. "He's fast."

"But there's so many," Watanuki murmured, looking out at all the people, his eyes clouded with the distinct shade of being a little overwhelmed. "How can you tell?"

The monk paused, considering those words and expression. Again the question rose in the monk's mind, how did Watanuki see the world having the power he did? If the chain appeared clearly to him, did he see other connections? Other links, other bindings… perhaps, did he see even the very threads of fate?

He growled, the thoughts feeding his suspicions of the noble's nature. And with a quick glance at Arashi, he knew she too had come to similar lines of thought.

--

"Do you know anything about this errand of his?" Shizuka asked, tamping down on his irritability. He stood by Sorata's side by the railing, looking out across the water at the view of the setting sun.

"No idea," Sorata replied then asked, "Are you following him?"

Shizuka didn't even bother to answer; it didn't merit one. In no existence would he willingly allow Watanuki to wander off amidst the pose of danger.

"Hmm," Sorata hummed to himself, "I got the tail end grasp of that presence you and Arashi noticed when we docked. Cold, that one. Luckily, distinctive."

With a nod in agreement, the monk said, "The soldiers are aware?" Sorata nodded confirmation. "Good. The feel of that aura negates any chances he's here to free the prisoners." He's here for Watanuki.

They chatted back and forth a little about the things they'd been uncovering in the journals, thoughts and other security considerations. And just as dark descended, Watanuki's cabin door opened, cutting off their conversation.

Shizuka tried not to stare, he really did.

But Watanuki wore layered short robes, white under-robes against his smooth pale skin then a sheer silver layer over that but under a blue silk over-robe embroidered colourfully with cranes in flight. The under-robes' white sleeves extended down to his elbows where the next layer in silver fluttered a few inches further up in a gently ruffled trim. The over-robe fitted Watanuki very closely, ending in darker silver edging at his upper arm, overlaid with an informal silver obi tied in the front, the dangling tassel ends drawing the eye down to—

He wrenched his eyes lower, following the way the robes fell to mid-thigh over blue trousers so dark they appeared almost black tucked into his no-nonsense black boots. Watanuki's graceful hands, wrists and half of his arm remained bare. Shizuka noticed that. Oh boy, did he notice that and the fair, flawless skin left exposed.

But then Watanuki reached and pulled his hair up into a tie… and then Shizuka really did stare –because Watanuki's throat and neck were bare, the robes cut in such a way that they left an extra inch of skin exposed to the collarbones.

Oh, dear.

Sorata snickered and Shizuka renewed a long-separated acquaintance with embarrassment for a brief moment. Then he angled a quick glance at the priest who seemed not the least bit perturbed by the quality of gaze Shizuka had been putting upon his master –not that Shizuka viewed the noble as a superior anymore. Catching the look, Sorata shrugged and smiled, jingling his wedding bracelet meaningfully in indication Arashi wouldn't find anything averse to this new situation either.

Well, thank the Gods for that, then.

Shizuka couldn't stop the curl one side of his mouth made when he realised all three of the most important people in Watanuki's life found nothing to say against his feelings.

"Good evening, Watanuki," the monk offered in Japanese.

"Good evening, Doumeki," came the soft, distracted reply. Then Watanuki seemed to realise he'd been too polite and snapped a quick glare at Shizuka. "You're coming with me, aren't you?"

"Of course." Really, what delusions Watanuki entertained; as if Shizuka would let him around in public on his own.

"I'm not going far," Watanuki said firmly.

Shizuka said nothing. It wasn't a question and it wasn't a command that went against the noble's safety. He maintained his impassive stare, the expression marred only by—

"Why are you smiling?" Watanuki demanded suspiciously. "It's creepy. I've never seen you smile like that before."

Best get used to it, Shizuka thought. It might be the subject of the little smile henceforth. "Personal reasons."

Sorata cut off a laugh, shook his head and walked off with a little wave. Watanuki watched the priest a moment, eyes darting back quickly to Shizuka then he made a face and muttered, "I don't think I want to know."

One day you will. "Shall we go?"

"Gimme a minute here!" Watanuki snapped, "I need you to bring some bags." An apprehensive expression came over his face and he stepped nearer to the monk, darting his eyes about to check if anyone was listening in. He leaned in so close, in fact, that Shizuka could breathe in a slow lungful of his scent. On a low and personal voice, "Can you go to the kitchen and fetch some woven bags for me? We're going to the market."

"Return to your cabin while I go," Shizuka said quietly, enjoying the proximity but not enough to deny the bad feeling crawling along his spine at the thought of leaving Watanuki unprotected on deck. "While we're near shore, I'd prefer you were indoors and unseen if we are not together."

Watanuki scowled, opened his mouth and—

"Or you can get them yourself," Shizuka muttered.

Snapping his mouth shut, the noble fired off one last glare, spun on his toe and marched back into his cabin, slamming the door behind him.

A nearby English sailor gave a low whistle, "What's got 'is drawers in a twist?"

Shizuka nodded to acknowledge the sympathetic comment but truthfully considered the best thing to do with twisted drawers would be to rip them out of the way— He sighed, cutting off those thoughts and went to fetch the shopping bags.

When he returned, it was to Watanuki's glower, folded arms and tapping foot. He silently held the door open and the noble marched out, head high, eyes sparking.

Shizuka thought he looked magnificent, following closely behind, clutching shopping bags. He wondered what Watanuki might consult with him to buy, thinking on his own leather wallet in his pocket in case he spotted fruit with which to convince Watanuki to make another fruit pie. Or maybe fish? He hadn't had breaded seafood in a long while. Better yet, could Watanuki find the components to make tempura batter?

"Can you make tempura for dinner?" he asked Watanuki's back as he followed down the gangplank.

That slender back stiffened before the noble whipped his chin to his shoulder and fired back at him, "I most certainly can but I will not!"

Shizuka smiled to himself, remaining silent.

A moment later, Watanuki growled with frustration …and resignation.

TBC