Watanuki's heart pounded in his chest as he replayed the events of the day in his mind. It was a day that would forever be etched in his memory, a day that had brought him face to face with his own mortality and the unwavering love of the one person he had always pushed away– Dōmeki.
It had all started beneath the hydrangea tree, its branches heavy with blood-red blossoms that seemed eerie and unnatural. Watanuki and Dōmeki were there at the request of Ame-Warashi but Watanuki wasn't quite sure what she wanted him to do but as always, he was sucked into things he didn't understand. This time literally.
Beneath the hydrangea was dark and there was a rancid smell in the air that churned his stomach. And then the spirit of a little girl had appeared before him, crying and terrified. She had begged him to come with her, her voice filled with a longing that tugged at his heartstrings. But as he had taken her hand, the scent of that place had gotten even stronger– a scent of decay and despair that had slowly sapped away his energy, leaving him weak and disoriented.
Watanuki shuddered as he remembered the smell and the feeling of being pulled deeper into that dark realm, where time seemed to stretch and warp. He had been trapped, not sure where to go and the little girl crying and begging for him to go with her hadn't helped and even though he'd never wanted to admit it before he just wished Dōmeki was with him.
He'd always pushed the tall Alpha away, hating how weak and Omegan he felt around him. So he'd forcefully pushed those feelings away and been as mean as his inner omega would allow.
But he was afraid, cold, and his resolve was weakening by the minute, and he just wanted his Alpha! Then a voice sparked all around him telling him not to go with the little before he felt water dripping down on him and looked up to see Himawari's other ribbon winding its way toward the one he was holding.
The ribbons connected and pulled him out of that place with her and release the little girls spirit as well. Then he felt another tug on that ribbon and he sat up and saw Dōmeki, his alpha, his only relief from the spirits that chased him, and the one person who had always been there for him, even when Watanuki had pushed him away.
Dōmeki was standing a few feet away, his tall figure silhouetted against the rain-soaked backdrop. His clothes clung to his body, emphasizing his broad shoulders and strong physique. Watanuki felt a rush of warmth at the sight of him.
"Dōmeki." He whispered; his voice choked with emotion.
Dōmeki was watching him, his expression blank but his amber eyes revealing the mix of relief and concern that he couldn't hide. "Watanuki, are you okay?"
Watanuki couldn't help himself any longer. He rushed into Dōmeki's arms, burying his face in Dōmeki's chest and because of that missed the wide-eyed surprise that flashed over his face. The warmth and strength of Dōmeki's embrace were like a lifeline, pulling him back from the brink of despair.
"Thank you." He mumbled, his voice trembling.
Dōmeki held him tight, his arms a sanctuary of safety and comfort. "I was worried about you." He admitted, voice low and filled with emotion.
Watanuki clung to Dōmeki, tears disappearing in Dōmeki's wet shirt. "I thought I might never see you again." He confessed. "I thought I was going to die."
Dōmeki's arms tightened around him, and he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Watanuki's head. "I won't let anything happen to you, Watanuki." He vowed. "I'll always protect you, no matter what."
Watanuki pulled back slightly, looking up at Dōmeki with tear-filled eyes. "I don't deserve you." He said, his voice trembling.
Dōmeki's thumb brushed away a tear from Watanuki's cheek. "You don't have to deserve me, Watanuki. I choose to be with you because I want to be. You mean everything to me."
Watanuki's heart swelled with emotion as he looked into Dōmeki's eyes. He had always been the one to complain about Dōmeki's presence, to push him away, but now he realized how much he relied on him, how much he cared for him.
Leaning in, he pressed his lips to Dōmeki's, pouring all of his pent-up emotions into the kiss. Dōmeki responded immediately, his lips moving against Watanuki's with a hunger that matched Watanuki's own. The rain continued to pour down around them but they were lost in their own world.
When they finally broke the kiss, they were both breathless but they didn't care. Dōmeki rested his forehead against Watanuki's, their breaths mingling in the cool air.
Watanuki smiled through his tears. "Thank you for saving me."
Dōmeki pulled Watanuki into another embrace, holding him close as they stood in the rain. They were both wet and cold, but in that moment, they felt warmer than ever before. The rain continued to pour around them, but they were safe and sheltered in each other's arms.
※
Watanuki reluctantly pulled himself out of the memory, wiping away a few stray tears that had gathered in the corner of his eyes again. It had been a moment of raw vulnerability, a moment when he had acknowledged Dōmeki's feelings for him and his own feelings in return.
Yūko hadn't helped him feel less guilty about how he'd treated Dōmeki before today. In fact she seemed to delight in twisting the knife and explaining what had happened while he was trapped beneath the hydrangea.
Yūko had explained where he had been taken. 'The Border' she called it– a space between the living and the dead, where lost souls roamed, and that the horrible smell had been death.
She also explained it was the hydrangea who had spoken to him. To try and protect him. But it wasn't just the hydrangea who helped him. It was Dōmeki too.
As the hours in the normal world passed, Watanuki hadn't known of Dōmeki's unwavering determination to rescue him. The rain had poured relentlessly, drenching Dōmeki to the bone as he tirelessly dug through the earth to reach Watanuki, thinking he'd been buried alive. The thought of it made Watanuki's heart ache.
Dōmeki had been relentless in his efforts, his strong arms driving deeper and deeper into the ground. He hadn't given up, never wavered in his belief that he could save Watanuki and had followed Yūko's advice without question.
It was a display of devotion and love that Watanuki had never expected, and he felt even more ashamed of how he'd pushed him away just to act like that. How did Dōmeki put up with him...
As he was lost in thought, the door to the room creaked open, and Watanuki turned to see Dōmeki entering with a stack of warm blankets.
Dōmeki set the blankets down and walked over to Watanuki, concern still evident in his amber eyes. "You were lost in thought for a while there. Are you feeling okay?"
Watanuki nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I was just remembering earlier today, Dōmeki, and how grateful I am to have you in my life."
Dōmeki returned the smile, a rare display of warmth on his usually stoic face. "I'm the one who's grateful, Watanuki. Grateful that you're safe and with me."
Watanuki reached out and took Dōmeki's hand, squeezing it gently.
Dōmeki's thumb traced soothing circles on the back of Watanuki's hand and Dōmeki wrapped one of the warm blankets around Watanuki's shoulders, making sure he was comfortable and snug. They settled on the couch together, their bodies close, and the rain continued to drum against the windows.
※
As Watanuki lay against Dōmeki, wrapped in the warmth of the blankets, he couldn't help but reflect on the path that had brought them to this moment. Not just with the Hydrangea today but everything.
Their relationship had always been complicated. Watanuki had resented Dōmeki's stoicism and seemingly unshakable calmness in the face of all the bizarre occurrences that had become a part of their lives. But over time, he had come to appreciate Dōmeki's steadfastness and unwavering support.
Dōmeki, on the other hand, had always been a man of few words. He had watched over Watanuki silently, intervening when necessary, and offering comfort when it was needed most. His actions had spoken louder than any words ever could, and Watanuki had slowly come to understand the depth of Dōmeki's feelings.
Their love had developed gradually, evolving from a reluctant partnership into something much more profound. It had been a love born of shared experiences, of facing the unknown together, and of standing by each other's side through every trial, no matter how hard Watanuki had tried to deny it.
Watanuki closed his eyes, relishing the feeling of Dōmeki's presence beside him. The rain outside showed no sign of letting up, and the room was filled with the soothing sound of droplets against the roof.
"Dōmeki." Watanuki murmured, breaking the comfortable silence.
Dōmeki shifted slightly, turning his head to look at Watanuki. "Yes?"
Watanuki took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to express what was in his heart. "I've been thinking about us, about everything that's happened. I know I pushed you away, and resented your presence but now... I can't imagine my life without you."
Dōmeki's eyes softened, and he reached out to gently stroke Watanuki's cheek. "Watanuki, you don't have to explain. I've always known."
Watanuki smiled, his heart swelling with warmth. "I know you've known but I want to say it anyway. I love you, Dōmeki. More than I can put into words."
Dōmeki leaned in and captured Watanuki's lips in a tender kiss. It was a kiss filled with all the unspoken emotions they had kept hidden for so long– love, longing, and a deep sense of belonging.
When they finally parted, they rested their foreheads against each other, their breaths intermingling. "I love you too, Watanuki." Dōmeki whispered. "And I always will."
Their love was a quiet, steady force, like the rain outside– unyielding and ever-present. In each other's arms, they had found solace and a sense of home that they had never known before.
The room was filled with the soft patter of rain, the warmth of their shared love, and the promise of a future filled with even more adventures, mysteries, and moments of unwavering devotion. Together, Watanuki and Dōmeki were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that their love would guide them through it all.