Chapter Text
“Hey, Shizuka, what was our first date?” Watanuki asked him. He had on a powder blue changshan with golden embroidery, partnered with an elaborate golden necklace. He was carefully pressing down the hems so that they lay a little flatter.
“The amusement park,” Domeki said without looking up from his book.
“That...that was a customer?” Watanuki said incredulously. “We were following a customer around to see what happened to her.”
“You might have been. I was going along on a ridiculous quest with this cute boy I liked.”
“Wait a minute,” Watanuki said.
“He had a little Pipefox with him that liked to go everywhere with him and kiss him. Which is understandable, really.”
“Slow down,” Watanuki said desperately.
Domeki finally looked up from his book. He was closing in on finishing his degree, getting closer by the day to where he’d be able to lavish Watanuki with the love and care he deserved. But there was still work to be done. “Yes?” he asked mildly.
“That long?” Watanuki asked weakly. “You liked me for that long?”
“Yes, I did. We went to a romantic destination together. We both rushed to assure each other that we would never bring the other to something like that. For absolutely no reason. The way only people who are basically dating do. Shy and romantic. Just like you. When did you start to like me?”
Watanuki bit his lip. “It took me a long time to realize it.”
“No kidding.”
“Shut up! But I think...I think I liked you from the minute I laid eyes on you.”
“You picked a fight,” Domeki pointed out.
“Yes, I know that, I remember. I think I picked that fight to get close to you. To get to know you. To see how you would react. There were some girls trying to meet you, flirt with you. I wanted all of your attention on me. And if I had to pick a fight to get it, then so be it.”
Domeki never really smiled externally. Watanuki had known him for enough years to know when his amusement started to crop up. His eyes crinkled at the corners, and his overall expression softened.
Once, in a very great while, Watanuki could coax out a true laugh. Haruka had told him once that he was the only person ever to manage that. A single person.
“That’s cute. When did you realize?”
Watanuki ducked his head, embarrassed. It was really, very ridiculous how long it had taken him. “When we went to the television studio.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Domeki asked, a note of disbelief in his voice.
“Wait, listen,” Watanuki started.
“You gave up your eye for me. You’re unbelievable.”
“In my defense,” Watanuki stopped. “No, I don’t even have a defense. I was just thick and concerned with other things. I really can’t say anything else. But once I knew! I did everything in my power to try and get you to choose someone else.”
Domeki let out a short, sharp laugh, and Watanuki smiled. Mission accomplished.
“You’re ridiculous,” Domeki informed him, drawing him into a kiss. “Come on, we only have a few minutes before Himewari and Engawa-san come to join us. It’s a big day.”
Watanuki nodded, feeling a little melancholy. Himewari was having a big wedding. Lots of people, lots of food, lots of love. It was nothing like what he and Domeki had had the year before. However, Watanuki had still been looking forward to seeing her get married.
Except, he couldn’t.
There was no way to cram all of the people into the shop, even if that was a possibility. And Watanuki couldn’t leave. Not ever. Not a single step past the threshold. When he tried, it was like a geas held him in place. Or perhaps, a wall kept him from moving beyond the edge of the yard. If he tried to push, it would push back.
He couldn’t leave, and they couldn’t have the wedding in the shop. Watanuki had told her it was alright and that Domeki would be there to support her. And it hadn’t been enough.
So, they were holding a miniature wedding at the shop ahead of time. Really, it was just an elaborate tea service with lots of Watanuki’s homemade sweets, but it was still something. Himewari was planning on wearing her wedding gown, and Engawa was planning on wearing his suit.
Domeki would still attend the larger wedding, but this one was just for the magic people. And Engawa, of course.
“You always look so nice in traditional clothing,” Watanuki told him lightly. His hands adjusted the sleeves of Domeki’s black haori gently.
“You look beautiful in everything the shop makes for you. Some of us don’t have the luxury of magic making us perfect outfits. We have to make do.”
Watanuki snorted. “Yeah, make do with being gorgeous and perfect.”
Domeki raised a single eyebrow and leaned close. Watanuki’s breath came in shallow pants, already knowing what he was going to do, before he did it.
“I think you have us mixed up. Which one of us is perfect forever?” Domeki didn’t wait for an answer, just drew Watanuki into a searing kiss.
“When today is over,” Watanuki started.
“When today is over, you’re going to be bent over your dreaming couch, taking me for at least two hours. By the time I’ve finished with you, you’ll be begging for mercy.”
Watanuki whimpered loudly.
“But first, a wedding.” Domeki drew back away from him with a mischievously look in his eyes.
“Bastard,” Watanuki hissed, but didn’t try to push farther. That would be for later.
Himewari entered the decorated sitting room, dressed in a beautiful western style wedding dress. She was beautiful, of course. She had always been beautiful. Now it seemed she shone.
Her dress was flowy, with a lot of lace. On an older bride, it would’ve looked ridiculous, but on her, it just made her shine.
“You look beautiful,” Watanuki told her.
Himewari giggled and did a spin to show off the back of the dress. “I spent hours trying to decide which one I should buy. I’m actually really glad that I have another reason to wear it. It’ll probably get boxed up after the wedding to protect it.”
Watanuki showed her to the elegantly decorated courtyard where they had set up. Maru and Moro were already waiting there with trays full of Watanuki’s food. He might actually have gone a little overboard, but he couldn’t help himself. Himewari deserved all of it and more. And this was the only celebration that Watanuki was going to get to see her in. So, he wanted all of it to be perfect.
This ceremony was even smaller than Domeki and Watanuki’s wedding. The spirits weren’t invited, so it was just the residents of the shop and the couple. Watanuki let the feeling of contentment wash over him.
In this moment, he was so happy that he felt like he could die and be unbothered. Or like he could drift away from everything and have it not even matter. Get away from all of his responsibilities. Run away with Domeki and simply never look back again.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Domeki asked quietly. They were taking a short break from the merriment so that Himewari and Engawa could put on more comfortable clothing.
Watanuki was preparing plenty of alcohol and another round of delicious food. They were planning on a midnight picnic together before they retired to bed. They’d stay the night in the shop, both of them being customers for life, and in the morning, they would be back in the swing of last-minute wedding plans. This was their last chance to be alone together before their honeymoon, and Watanuki wanted it to be perfect for them.
“Kimihiro?” Domeki asked. He put his hands around Watanuki’s waist, drawing him closer.
The hot pad that Watanuki slipped out of his hand, and Domeki braced himself, wrapping his arms tightly around Watanuki as his eyes drifted shut. Domeki was used to catching Watanuki when he fell asleep standing up. He’d gotten better about it, but it had never really gone away.
Which is how he knew that that wasn’t what happened. When Watanuki fell asleep, he became a steady weight. He would slump slowly against Domeki, letting him take on all of his weight. However, this time, it was nothing so soft. He fell against Domeki as though his strings had been cut. Dropping against him, falling into him.
Domeki held him, unsure of what the answer was. He’d never done this before.
Domeki opened his mouth, ready to call out for Mokona when Watanuki’s eyes fluttered. He reopened them and looked around, confused.
“Did I fall asleep?”
Domeki didn’t have an answer, but he didn’t want to ruin Watanuki’s wonderful day. So he nodded in agreement.
“Just for a moment. Come on, I bet they’re waiting for us to join them.”
Watanuki nodded, and his weight let off Domeki. He finished fixing the snacks for the rest of the night.
Domeki took a tray and two bottles of sake. Watanuki called for Maru and Moro, handing them a few light things each. They jumped in excitement at being able to help. Then Watanuki was directing them out to the courtyard.
The midnight picnic under the stars had been Domeki’s idea. Engawa had never stayed the night in the shop. It could be unsettling if you weren’t used to it. Strange sounds as the magic that created and sustained it filled the hallways. The movement of treasures that were waiting for their next home.
Watanuki’s rogue shamisen that liked to wander around the shop, especially at night. Because cats were nocturnal, and Watanuki wasn’t entertaining it.
However, outside of the shop in the courtyard? It was just beautiful.
It shouldn’t have been possible to see that many stars when they were in the city. It was literally an impossibility. But for whatever reason, they could.
Watanuki and Domeki had everything set up by the time Himewari and Engawa joined them, dressed in their nighttime yukata. Engawa, who was always a little bemused by the shop he’d accidentally stumbled into looking for a matchmaker’s shop, stared in shock.
“Wow,” he said, stunned. He’d never stayed the night in the shop. There’d never been a reason before. But Himewari wanted as much time with Watanuki to celebrate as she could get. And this had seemed like the most obvious answer. Hopefully, the view of the stars would erase any weird happenings later.
Domeki distributed glasses of sake, glad that he and Watanuki had set up the blankets and cushions earlier.
The four of them sat in silence for a few minutes, and Domeki looked out over them. Maru and Moro were chasing each other inside, and Mokona had settled himself on the far end of the blanket. Often, he would cuddle up to Watanuki or Domeki, but currently, he was just drinking from a sake glass. Quiet, for once.
When Watanuki spoke, it was quiet and measured. No one interrupted him; he just let him say his piece.
“May all your days will be as happy as this one. May all your time be spent loving one another as you do now. And may you always remember that there are people in this world who want you to have it all.”
Domeki took Watanuki’s hand in his and rubbed it. With the spell of silence broken, they dug into their second feast of the day with relish. Stories were told, jokes were swapped and moments of connection exchanged.
By the time Engawa was yawning so hard he couldn’t see straight, and Watanuki was half asleep in Domeki’s lap, it was going on two in the morning. They said goodnight to each other and went their separate ways. Watanuki was so tired that Domeki scooped him up into a bridal hold and carried him to their bedroom. Watanuki had giggled tiredly but had gone along with it. Too happy to resist the ridiculous urge.
And Domeki would always look back on this day as a turning point in their lives.
Domeki had never met Syaoran or the others. Had never known these strangers who had Watanuki throwing himself out a window for. He didn’t know much about what was even happening in their world or what their goals were.
And he didn’t care.
All Domeki really cared about was that Watanuki would give his entire life up if it meant someone he cared about wouldn’t be minorly inconvenienced. Case in point, the eye that Domeki shared with him. Given up so that Domeki wouldn’t suffer from his own actions. Thoughtlessly given away half his sight.
He was selfless like that. And damn did Domeki love him for it. But he also hated him for it.
His lovely little husband, always thinking of others before he thought of himself.
Watanuki was crying when he got home from work. It wasn’t his fear tinged sobbing that he’d done when seeing spirits. It was quiet, and half-choked like he was trying to stop himself.
Domeki followed the sound into the dreaming room where he found Watanuki sitting on the floor against his couch. Watanuki had his head buried in his knees. Domeki knelt down next to him, rubbing his back and shoulders gently.
It took Watanuki a moment to realize that he was even there. When he lifted his head to look at Domeki he rubbed at his eyes, shoving his glasses out of place.
“What’s wrong?”
Watanuki shook his head, unable to communicate what was happening.
He got like this sometimes. Occasionally the feelings would well up so strongly in him that all he could do was weep.
“Watanuki?” he asked, not pushing but still needing to know. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
Watanuki shook his head. “There was another, another one of those incidents. The ones where I’m not sleeping, but I’m...unconscious.”
Domeki sighed and let Watanuki cry into his shoulder. They needed to figure this out.
Domeki had no classes to teach the next day. Originally he’d planned on running some errands and doing some shopping. However, it seemed that Watanuki was still feeling pretty fragile, so he elected to stay home instead. Which he had been grateful when Watanuki opened his eyes and announced they were going to have a customer.
Domeki had helped him dress in one of his changshan, a pretty lavender with black stitching and prepared the customer room. The woman that entered wasn’t familiar to Domeki, but from the surprise on Watanuki’s face, he realized that she was to him.
“I have a problem, and I wanted your help. I remember that you tried to help me before and you took me to the hospital after my accident. You said that this shop was a shop that granted wishes, right?”
Watanuki nodded, pouring her a cup of tea. “Yes, this shop grants wishes, provided you can pay the price.”
“Yes, you gave me that ring to help with my finger.”
Watanuki opened his mouth to deny that and then closed it just as quickly.
“It’s been a few years, remind me what happened that day?” he asked, as casually as he could manage.
Domeki stood, watching carefully. They had no idea how Yuko’s disappearance would appear to the rest of the world. Technically, she never existed in the first place and the only regular humans that remembered her were the select few chosen.
“Oh, well we didn’t really talk much. I found myself coming into the shop, even though I didn’t mean to. You greeted me, showed me to a room and, umm,” she hesitated there for a moment. “Well, you gave me the ring and said I needed to work on my bad habit. Yes, that’s it. You told me it would help my pinky some but that I needed to work on it. Then I left, and of course there was my accident, but you probably remember that.”
Watanuki raised an eyebrow, but didn’t dispute her version of the events. “So, what can I help you with now?” It was unusual to get a repeat customer. Not impossible, as all things were hitsuzen, but unusual.
“There’s something I want to find. Something I’ve lost because of my actions, will you be able to help me?”
Domeki undressed Watanuki, undoing his buttons and setting the beautiful garment aside. As he did he thought about the words Yuko had imparted on him before she had disappeared. About the egg he had made the intentional choice to set aside. He wasn’t sure what it would do, although he had some ideas. However, he wasn’t ever going to make a choice like that for Watanuki.
“Keep it close to your skin,” she’s said. Absorbing his energy he’d always assumed, and it would help Watanuki move on from her death. Domeki had set it aside after years of carrying it. He wouldn’t risk a chance like that. But as he watched Watanuki’s face, he wondered if he should’ve told him.
Domeki helped him put on his pajamas and Watanuki crawled under the covers.
“Will you be able to help her?”
Watanuki nodded. “Yes, her price isn’t too high. If she wanted to make her lies truth, that would’ve been nearly impossible. However, helping her boyfriend forget the lies she’s told so she can start new? That’s easy. I’ll be able to do that from a dream. She’ll be alright as long as she ends her bad habit of lying. If she doesn’t, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Will you do it now?” Domeki asked lightly. Watanuki usually tried to keep his work to the day time when they weren’t in bed together. It was still the day, even if it was late afternoon.
Watanuki nodded. Domeki cradled his cheek softly but before he could retreat, Watanuki’s hand shot out and held it there. Domeki put a little pressure behind it, letting Watanuki draw on his strength.
“I knew that no one would remember her, but I’m still unsettled. It’s bizarre to think that most of the people she helped don’t remember her. What about the ones from before I came here? She thought I had helped her. Pieced back a memory that wasn’t real from the information she had. What about the ones that don’t have that luxury?”
“Repeat customers are so rare most of them probably never even think about it. Those memories probably fade back into a haze and they think nothing of it.”
“I wish everyone remembered her,” Watanuki said. Unlike in the past, his tone just carried weariness. None of the sharp grief that he carried. Just exhaustion.
Domeki kissed his head affectionately. Watanuki had lost so much in his life. Had lived alone, handling all of his own burdens. His childhood was spent raising himself. And then came along Yuko. She wasn’t a mother figure. Not even a sister figure really. Just someone he knew and cared for.
And then, even though he had already lost so much in his life, he had to lose her too. Had to live with only a handful of people remembering her. A weaker man would’ve crumbled under that. Watanuki simply endured.
“Would you like to talk about her?” Domeki asked.
Watanuki did just what he was expecting and shook his head. “No, I don’t. All of that is finished. Water under the bridge. Let me attend to my work now.”
Domeki watched as he laid down and closed his eyes. In an instant, he had drifted off to the dream world.
Domeki sat on the edge of the bed and watched his husband. Some wounds never healed. The loss of a parent chafed at you for the rest of your life. Always there just on the edge. Domeki had lost his father and then his grandfather. He had felt those losses keenly as a child.
But Watanuki had known nothing but loss. Nothing but the pain of someone leaving your side. He had lost both of his parents in an instant. Had lost his first real friend. Had lost Yuko even though he had done everything he could.
If Domeki could’ve eased those hurts for him, he would’ve. If he could make it hurt less, helped him say goodbye a little easier, he would’ve done it. He went over to his dresser and opened the drawer with the egg in it. Would it help him? Would it take something else from him? Yuko had said it would help but...he wasn’t sure he trusted her completely.
Her actions had led to Watanuki being trapped in the shop. Had pushed him to become the new shopkeeper, to take care of her shop. Her space. Her life.
And in turn, Watanuki had so little life of his own.
Domeki put the egg back in his dresser.
The customer returned the next day, beaming.
“You did it!” She announced excitedly. “It’s a clean slate.”
Watanuki was dressed very simply. Instead of a changshan he had on a plain black yukata with a dark red obi.
Domeki found him completely delicious, but he knew that it was an indicator that something was wrong. He wasn’t putting on his shopkeeper act, he was just doing his best to survive.
“Now the price,” Watanuki started.
Before he could even get it out she was withdrawing a pile of fabric. “I have my mother’s wedding dress. Is that enough?”
Watanuki touched the fabric carefully and then nodded. “Yes, it’s enough. I suppose this is goodbye.”
They walked her to the door and before the customer could leave she turned to them with a smile.
“Hey, tell that pretty dark haired woman hello for me, will you? I didn’t remember to ask you last time. I confess, I don’t remember her name. Anyway, thank you again.”
Watanuki stayed on his feet until the door was closed and then Domeki was catching him as his knees crumpled.
“I’m alright, really I am,” Watanuki insisted.
Domeki stroked his hair gently. “It’s okay if you aren’t.”
“She remembered her. At least a little. She remembered her. Shizuka, hold me,” Watanuki begged.
Domeki cradled him close. “Kimihiro,” he breathed softly.
Eventually the tears dried and Watanuki stood, still holding the wedding dress.
“It’s a good price,” he told Domeki lightly. “It’s personal to her, important to her. And it deals with what she’s trying to get to. She had to give a part of herself up, pay the price of her lies, to start over.”
They entered the treasure warehouse and Watanuki sighed lightly. He pointed at a shelf halfway up the wall. He wouldn’t be able to reach it without a stepladder.
“Right there, there’s a box you can put it in.”
Domeki nodded and reached for it. He was tall enough to just retrieve the box and place the dress gently inside it.
“I wonder who it’ll go to,” Domeki commented quietly. He was loathe to break the melancholic silence. Sometimes, Watanuki just needed the right to be sad.
“I don’t miss her as much as I should,” Watanuki said quietly.
“Should?” Asked Domeki lightly. “I don’t think that anyone gets to tell you how to grieve. I don’t think that you have to conform to any predetermined amount.”
“Yes, but I gave up so much for her. And I’ve quit thinking about her everyday. Until that customer came in, I hadn’t thought about her in a week. What does that make me?” Watanuki demanded.
Domeki cupped his cheek. “It makes you human. I know you sometimes forget, but you are still human. You always have been.”
Watanuki was a klutz, this was an undeniable truth. His ability to fall asleep standing fully upright had only strengthened the problem. Over the years Domeki had watched him become increasingly careful about his positions and actions.
If possible, he avoided climbing stools and ladders. He did his best to keep from getting into a place where he could injure himself if he fell. Watanuki got better at being more definite about his dream states and he got better about knowing when he was getting ready to fall into one. His true falls were beginning to become fewer and far between.
Which is why it scared the absolute daylights out of Domeki when he heard Watanuki fall. He’d been cleaning the customer room, giving it some much needed love when he heard the thump. The shop was full of all sorts of strange noises, so Domeki normally wouldn’t have bothered. Except he knew well the sound of his husband taking a tumble.
He’d left the customer room to find Watanuki lying in the hallway. His right hand held the pipe loosely and his head was tilted back. His eyes were closed and his breathing was even, but Domeki knew better than anyone what Watanuki looked like when he was sleeping, and this wasn’t it.
Domeki knelt next to him, shaking him gently. Watanuki opened his eyes and Domeki realized that they were glassy and confused. He scooped his husband into his arms and made for their bedroom. Watanuki was still holding the pipe and his hand tightened on it as some more awareness entered him.
The worst part of it was that this had happened before. That day, when they celebrated Himewari’s wedding. And then again later, after a customer had come and gone.
Another one of those magic falls.
Domeki began his day the way he had begun most of his days. In bed, with Watanuki, curled around slender limbs.
This day was different than most though as when Domeki opened his eyes, Watanuki was already awake. He was looking up at the ceiling silently. Usually when they slept together they spooned. Taking turns on who was the little spoon and who was the big spoon. At some point during the night, Watanuki had turned onto his back.
Domeki was still curled up close, with a leg thrown over most of Watanuki’s body. But something about this position seemed strange to Domeki for some reason.
“Are you alright?” Domeki asked. He sat up a little, just to look into Watanuki’s pretty eyes.
“I cracked the stem of my pipe with the fall yesterday,” he said, tonelessly.
“Ah,” Domeki said softly. “That means a call to the Moon Rabbit to have it repaired then?”
Watanuki nodded and turned over to look at him. There were tears in his eyes and Domeki drew him close. Married life was pretty much like living together life, but with a few changes. The biggest difference was in Watanuki, who seemed to have finally settled into their relationship. He finally had understood that Domeki wanted to be at his side and was always going to be with him. Which meant he was finally coming to him about his emotions.
“Shh, you didn’t mean to crack the stem. You didn’t mean to fall.”
“She’d be disappointed,” Watanuki muttered.
“She wouldn’t. This is your shop now. Your treasures and belongings to care for. It can be replaced. Do you really believe that in all her years Yuko never did anything like that?”
Watanuki curled a little closer, hiding his face in Domeki’s neck.
“I don’t know why I fell, and I’m scared that it’ll happen again,” he whispered softly.
“I know.”
“I’m worried that it’ll keep happening and I won’t be able to figure out why.”
Domeki held him as he cried.
“We’ll handle it. Just like we handled the dreaming. Anything can be adjusted to.”
Watanuki didn’t let go until Domeki’s alarm went off, signaling that he needed to get up and get going. But part of him didn’t want to let go at all. Part him just wanted to make Domeki stay and comfort him. But eventually, all tears run out. Eventually, the pain has to ease back into its box and the day needed to be begun.
Watanuki reluctantly drew himself away and toward the edge of the bed. He had an appointment to prepare for. A few minutes later and Domeki had departed and Watanuki was practicing the shamisen out back. He had a few minutes until his appointment and he wanted to practice while there was no one listening.
He was interrupted when the Moon Rabbit announced his presence with a cheerful, “That’s some skill you have there.”
Watanuki stopped his practice and turned to look at the small creature. He tipped his hat and approached Watanuki, bringing his mobile shop with him.
Watanuki explained that he couldn’t use a bachi on the shamisen which meant one thing.
“I can only play one other song on it.”
“Oh, well, that’s more than enough. You have already charmed your companion. I’m sure he isn’t picky on how you serenade him.”
Watanuki laughed and handed over the pipe.
Watanuki rapidly began assembling a room to house the Jorougomo for their appointment. Domeki was going to be furious with him for even agreeing to meet with her at all, but he was the shopkeeper and she had a wish to grant.
The cushions stuffed with the Pipefox fur and candles lit with Pipefox fire. And of course, the Pipefox himself.
Mugetsu made his concerned chirping noise as Watanuki assembled the only way he would ever be comfortable meeting with a spirit like her. He was tightly curled around Watanuki’s neck, upset that he was even entertaining the spirit.
“Shh, it’s alright. I’ve taken lots of precautions.”
Mugetsu looked up at him with a look of concern.
“Plus, I have a very special and one-of-a-kind precaution. You will look after me, won’t you?”
Mugetsu nodded rapidly.
“Then, I’ll be fine.” Watanuki cradled him close for a minute, letting him snuggle and kiss to his heart’s content. “There are two beings in the world that can protect me from spirits like this. You, and Domeki. And I know you’ll do a good job. Alright, in you go. Let’s tuck you away so I don’t tip my hand too early.”
Watanuki helped Mugetsu slither down into his clothes. If she did get violent, Watanuki wanted an ace up his sleeve. Or in this case, a Pipefox up his kimono.
“Shizuka isn’t going to be happy when he hears about this,” Watanuki muttered.
He returned to the courtyard and led Jorougomo to the prepared room. He invited her to sit down and explained about how the room had been prepared.
“It’s awful close in here, isn’t it?” She questioned slyly.
“The Pipefox fire won’t harm me,” Watanuki assured her. It couldn’t. Pipefox was powerful against those he hated and weak against those he loved. Yuko had once said that the Pipefox loved Watanuki more than anyone in the world.
He had loved him so much that he demanded that Watanuki name him. If the whole building was to catch fire, Watanuki could walk out of it without a scratch on him. Time would tell if he could say the same about this customer interaction.
Domeki’s anger wasn’t like a lot of other men. It wasn’t shouting or throwing things. It wasn’t raised voices or animated gestures. His anger was quiet. His rage was the press of intentional silence. It was the way he avoided eye contact, looking just over you. It was in the way he narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw.
Watanuki felt like making his excuses. That it was the Moon Rabbit that had tricked him into letting her in. That she was a customer and as the shopkeeper, Watanuki had to grant the wishes of his customers. Or any of the other things that made it not his fault.
But he didn’t. Because for all of Domeki’s rightfully earned anger, he knew all those things. Watanuki had told him the whole story, beginning to end. Had talked about the room he had prepared and taking the Pipefox out.
“I’m glad you’re alright,” Domeki said finally.
“You’re angry,” Watanuki told him.
Domeki stood and took Watanuki’s face in his hands. “Not at you. You did a good job. You protected yourself the best you could. I despise her though. I despise her for taking your eye and eating it. I despise her for terrifying you and threatening your life. I despise her for kidnapping your friend to use against you. I hate all these things she did to you with no care for you as a person. And I hate that she now has the nerve to become a customer. Especially to ask something like this of you.”
Watanuki hugged him tightly and let out a shaky breath. There would always be creatures in the world more powerful than him and he couldn’t overcome the fear that overwhelmed him in these cases. All he could do was push it away and make an intentional choice to feel afraid later. Now was later though.
Pipefox nuzzled, nipped, kissed and cuddled Watanuki intently. His love for Watanuki seemed to grow over time. It seemed as Domeki continued to love him unconditionally, so did the little Pipefox.
“She tried to seduce me,” Watanuki said into his shoulder. “It was so ridiculous that I wanted to laugh. Or cry.”
Domeki held him close. He didn’t say anything, he didn’t need to. Watanuki needed to work through his own emotions over what happened on his own. The attempts at ridiculous seduction aside. He really had done everything in his power to protect himself, which was a serious change from earlier days. Perhaps there was a bigger change to them now that they were married then they realized.
When they pulled apart, Domeki saw the shallow cut on Watanuki’s neck and frowned.
“She did this,” he asked lowly.
Watanuki nodded, distracted. “The price was unequal so she demanded a taste of my blood to make up the rest.”
Domeki sighed and went to get the first aid kit. He rifled through it until he found the disinfectant and bandages. Domeki very gently dabbed at the cut on his neck and Watanuki endured it. He hadn’t made a sound when the cut was made, but now he wanted to whine. To complain about the unfairness of the whole thing.
Or perhaps he just wanted to complain about the unfairness of the yaobikuni. To be alone and unchanging for so long.
“The yaobikuni said we were the same,” Watanuki told Domeki. “She’s not wrong.”
“Mm, different circumstances but a similar impact,” Domeki said lightly.
“Why do I get to be happy, while she has to be alone?” Watanuki asked softly.
Domeki looked into those mismatched eyes. “I don’t know why she’s alone. But you’re happy because you’ve allowed yourself to be happy. You’re happy because you let me in, and you take care of me and every day you choose to be with me. That’s why you’re happy. I couldn’t tell you why she’s unhappy though. You deserve your happiness though, even if there’s someone out there like you that doesn’t have it.”
Watanuki looked up into those eyes. One of them shared, one of them all his own. Domeki was relentless in his love and care for Watanuki. Even though Watanuki had now been seventeen for more than five years. Even though they were both staring down the same agony the girl had gone through. He still stood by Watanuki, no matter what seemed to come their way. Watanuki was starting to learn that he always would. And wasn’t that a strange thought?
“I don’t want to think about you leaving me,” Watanuki confessed. “I don’t want to think about what it’ll be like when you go.”
“Then don’t. I’m here now, and I’ll be here until the very end of my life. I’m at your side now. Leave everything else for the future.”
Watanuki would’ve liked to have some grand excuse for how long it had taken him to decide to give the magical thimble to Domeki. He would’ve liked to say it was out of caution or protection. That he wanted to make sure that it wasn’t going to be dangerous to a regular person before he handed it over.
But the truth was, he had just forgotten about it. With Jorougomo’s extra demand, that the price wasn’t equal, he’d been forced to give up his blood. He had been somewhat distracted. Then his discussion with Domeki about what it would be like to live forever and lose everyone you cared about, it had honestly just slipped his mind. At least until he went looking for another packet of tobacco for his pipe and found it where he’d left it next to the sofa.
It was likely one of the only things in the shop that he would get to decide directly what to do with. He had negotiated it solely and paid for it partially with his own blood. Most of the others had either come with the shop or didn’t contain anywhere near such a personal touch.
Which is part of why he’d been able to leave and forget about it. Which is exactly what he had done. He had set it in the drawer in the room they had made their final exchange, and he’d immediately forgotten about it. It was also the only reason that he would have a particular ability.
He was going to give it away, without a cost, to someone who hadn’t asked for it.
Because he had forgotten something very important.
It was March 3rd. Domeki’s birthday.
Since they’d been married, Watanuki had done something unusual for his birthday. The first year after they’d been married he’d cooked an incredible and elaborate meal. Last year he’d let Domeki tie him up and edge him for hours. This year, things had been so hectic that he hadn’t had the time to figure anything out. Which left him with plan b.
Watanuki was smoking his pipe when Domeki finally returned.
“Sorry I’m late,” he told Watanuki. And he was. It was already going on late evening and with the sun setting it was starting to get chilly. Watanuki had put a black haori over his kimono for the extra warmth but he hadn’t gone inside.
He liked the cold and on a day like March 3rd, he wanted to be waiting at home for Domeki to come back to him.
“Did you attend to your responsibilities well?” Watanuki asked him.
Domeki snorted lightly. He was dressed warmly as well. A camelhair coat over a beige turtleneck. “You don’t care about my parishioners at all. You just want me back home with you.”
Watanuki looked down and smiled in guilt. The longer they were together, the more jealous of Domeki’s time he was. He didn’t begrudge him his job at the university, but he did begrudge the time that Domeki still spent attending to the temple.
Domeki’s mother was distant and unattached. His father had passed away when he was just a boy. His strongest connection had always been his grandfather. When Haruka entered the spirit world, Domeki had been on his own almost as much as Watanuki himself. The only difference being he resided at the temple with his mother.
She’d been uncaring of him moving out and hadn’t wanted to attend their wedding. She hadn’t cared as long as Domeki had continued his work at the temple. He hadn’t said anything, but her indifference, particularly about his marriage, had hurt Domeki. And so Watanuki disliked how tied to that place he was. How he continued his responsibilities long after he should’ve discharged them.
But Domeki was a dutiful son.
“I have a special gift for you,” Watanuki informed him lightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a spirit lingering outside the shop. It would make an excellent target.
Watanuki held out the ring.
Domeki raised an eyebrow and took it. “I already have a ring from you.”
Watanuki smiled enigmatically and Domeki tried it on.
“It’s small,” he told him.
“Give it all you got. Strictly speaking it’s a thimble. Although it has a different purpose.” Watanuki allowed Domeki to see through his part of their shared eye.
Domeki straightened up. “Beyond the wall, is something there?” he asked, leaning forward to get a better look.
“It’s not really appropriate to call something so big and stagnant a spirit.”
Domeki frowned, worry crossing his features. “Is it always there?” The shop was the only protection Watanuki had when he was away and he hated the idea of something so malevolent hanging out outside it.
“Sometimes, but it’s unlikely you’ve come across it before. Spirits tend to avoid you when possible. Put that onto your left index finger.”
“It wouldn’t fit on my ring finger earlier,” Domeki informed him.
“It’s fine now. Go ahead.”
Domeki did as he asked, and it slipped on easily. Immediately a bow materialized in his hand. It crossed Watanuki’s mind that he should warn Domeki before he took his next action but he immediately disregarded the thought. It worked best when Domeki could act on instinct and not try to use his mind too much.
He made a quick symbol in the air, a seal to cut the barrier, and immediately the spirit rushed toward him.
“Watanuki!” Domeki called. Just as Watanuki had predicted, his instincts snapped into place. He pulled the bow up and shot off a single arrow of his energy. He could see it with Watanuki’s eye as it struck the spirit dead on. It shrieked as it died, dissolving in front of them.
“What is this,” Domeki asked, fighting to keep his tone from sounding annoyed. Watanuki was supposed to warn him about these things ahead of time.
“A tool for purification. It was made from the wood of a peach tree. It secures and embodies the power of the wearer. The shape isn’t fixed, instead it changes from person to person. Yours is a bow, for obvious reasons.”
Domeki watched as he made a few quick movements with his left hand. Subtle enough most people would’ve missed them.
“You cut out the barrier,” Domeki said, his tone going flat.
Watanuki shrugged lightly. “Yes. I didn’t tell you ahead of time. I wanted to give you a chance to let your instincts to their job.”
“And if I hadn’t let my instincts guide me? If I hadn’t brought the bow up and fired?”
“Well then, I would’ve been in serious trouble then, wouldn’t I?”
Domeki shook his hand lightly and the bow dismissed itself. “Uh-huh,” he said, his tone conveying how unimpressed he was. “Bedroom, now,” he ordered.
“Shizuka,” Watanuki started.
“No, I mean it. Go to the bedroom, right now. I’m right behind you.”
Watanuki hesitated long enough that Domeki grabbed him by the arm and dragged him off to their bedroom. Domeki closed and locked the door behind them. It probably wasn’t necessary. Even Mokona didn’t come in unless invited. But this was something that no one needed to witness.
“How long have we been married?”
Watanuki swallowed, “We’ve been married four years now.”
“And in those four years, have I ever given you the idea that I will allow you to endanger your life like this?”
Watanuki shook his head. Domeki was his staunchest protector and took it hard every time he was injured.
“What about before we were married? Did I dig in the rain for hours for you to do this kind of nonsense?”
Watanuki looked down, ashamed.
“We’re trying something new now. I’d like you to remove your haori and bend over the bed.” This idea had been in Domeki’s head for a while. He was done talking, it was time to take action.
Watanuki slowly obeyed. His actions showed that despite his lack of parents growing up for most of his life, he had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen to him. Once he was situated over the bed, Domeki stood behind him and placed a hand on his back.
Domeki laid down a firm spank on Watanuki’s ass. He squeaked at the feeling, but didn’t do much more than that. Domeki had been spanked several times as a child, although rarely. He had simply been too reserved to need corrective discipline very often. After his grandfather had passed away, he hadn’t needed it at all.
But he knew the basics and he figured he could go a little harder than that. He laid down another swat. Watanuki jerked, but he didn’t try to get away from his punishment. Domeki took that for as much permission as he was going to get.
Domeki spanked Watanuki, not quickly but consistently. Watanuki endured it well, only letting out quiet little noises when he felt like it. He never moved away and never tried to get away from what Domeki thought was well deserved.
He started to slow after a few minutes. The smacks stopped when Domeki realized that the tension had gone out of Watanuki’s shoulders. He pulled back and looked down at his husband. He placed a hand at the small of Watanuki’s back.
“Now that you’ve been punished for your foolish actions, I want to know why.”
“Why,” Watanuki asked. All Domeki could hear was exhaustion.
“Yes, why you would take a risk like that? Why endanger your life like that? If you wanted me to test the ring all you had to do was tell me where, let me see it and allow me to step outside the barrier. You did this instead.”
Watanuki breathed for a moment. When he spoke his voice was steady. “I ask you to do dangerous things all the time. Investigate places I can’t go. Get you to help me with my business of granting wishes. And I sit here, in this shop, perfectly safe. Tucked behind barriers. The only danger to myself is if I fall asleep standing up.”
Domeki helped Watanuki sit back up. His eyes looked angry behind his glasses. Domeki stroked at the scar on his neck.
“Then what’s this?”
Watanuki’s eyes widened.
“What is this scar on your neck? If you’re perfectly safe then what about the pain from the wishes? What about the customers that threaten or attack you? Safe? Watanuki you are not safe. You’ve never been safe. What you are now, is safer than you have ever been in your life. That doesn’t make you safe. And you don’t get to put yourself in more danger just because you’re not being harassed daily by spirits.”
“I understand,” Watanuki said while glancing down with embarrassment.
“Yes, be embarrassed. I had to punish you on my birthday.”
“I’m sorry.”
Domeki hugged Watanuki to his chest tightly. “Don’t be so careless with your life, Kimihiro. You think because you put yourself in this position that that makes you disposable.” They stood together for a few minutes before Domeki retreated.
Watanuki swiped at the tears on his face. “I’m sorry about ruining your birthday,” he told him.
“You didn’t ruin it. The gift was lovely. And I’m sure you’ve prepared a wonderful meal and some liquor. I just don’t want you to take your pain for granted.”
“Is that what I was doing?” Watanuki asked.
“Yes, it is. It’s not a new habit for you either. You’ve always done that sort of thing. Tried to throw away your life. Tried to take on the burdens of strangers and friends alike. It’s as if you’ve suffered so much for so long that you think that it doesn’t matter if there’s more.”
Watanuki looked up at Domeki, his words sinking in.
“I guess...maybe I do think it doesn’t matter. I’ll always be hurting. What’s a little more?”
“It does matter. It matters to me. Every hurt, no matter how little matters to me. Don’t ever act like you don’t offer up my heart when you offer your body.”
Domeki had been gone four days when he returned. That was longer than he’d ever been comfortable leaving Watanuki. Even though he knew that he was fine. That if Watanuki really needed something he could always call Himewari and Engawa, there was still a part of him that worried. All he had ever wanted was for Watanuki to be safe.
When he arrived at the house, Watanuki was smoking out in the yard. Maru and Moro announced him excitedly.
“Domeki’s back! Domeki’s back!”
Watanuki turned and smiled at him. “Did you do the shopping on your way home?”
Domeki nodded. “Everything except hakusai. There weren’t any good ones.”
Watanuki sighed. “To be expected. What about spinach? Winter spinach is the best. I’m going to make dinner, Maru, Moro, come help me.”
As Watanuki walked away, Domeki turned to Mokona with a look. “How was he?”
“Same as always. A little sad with you gone. He tried hard not to mope too much though. We have a customer though. Be prepared.”
Domeki nodded.
Watanuki poured them all a glass and sipped at it carefully. He looked so refined like that. His hand naturally went to the pipe and then he stopped. It was so unusual that Domeki needed more information.
“I heard you had a customer. What kind of request was it?”
“Is it. The customer is right in front of your eyes. It’s a request to wait.”
“Until?”
“Until the one who’s coming to take this little one away. That’s why I can’t smoke my pipe.”
Domeki gave him a look.
Watanuki had changed. His simple clothes for working on the umeboshi had been replaced with something a little more elaborate. No one in the world knew Watanuki more than Domeki, and he knew that something was going on.
“Why did you keep me back? Normally I walk Tsuyuri home. And you’ve cracked open the liquor you said you wouldn’t open unless there was a dire need.”
Watanuki nodded seriously. “There’s something that followed this child to the shop. I need you to exorcise it. Will you do it?”
Domeki side-eyed him. Three was more to this then he was saying, but Domeki wouldn’t call him out on it in front of the child.
“Of course,” Domeki assured him.
Watanuki spoke to the child softly, trying to get them to go inside. It seemed they disagreed with him.
“It’s impossible if it isn’t inside the barrier?” Domeki asked him. He didn’t want to risk Watanuki and the little one if he didn’t have to.
Watanuki nodded lightly, understanding what Domeki was asking. “Afterward you’ll be associated with it.”
“Don’t care.”
“It’s out in the rain,” Watanuki told him with some amusement. Despite the seriousness of the situation, he was always impressed with the stalwart way that Domeki approached things.
“Doesn’t matter,” he said, stepping off the porch and into the rain. Immediately he was soaked.
“Will you cut the barrier?” Domeki asked him.
Watanuki cradled the little one to his chest. “I won’t have to. In a minute it’s going to breach it, no matter what we do.” As if on cue, there was a tearing sound and the barrier was breached.
Domeki began to fire as quickly as he could. Each arrow made of chi struck true. Watanuki smiled, still so impressed with his abilities no matter how long they’d known each other. The spirit shrieked in pain in frustration.
Domeki’s arrows kept it from being able to move forward but it wasn’t going to give up its prize.
“How long do I need to keep firing?”
“Until the summons finishes.”
“Got it,” and Domeki turned his attention back to his work.
Watanuki’s expression turned pained as some of the attacks struck true and deep gouges appeared. He held back a whimper, not wanting to scare the little one.
“Keep going,” Watanuki ordered when Domeki turned to look at him. Stopping wouldn’t help anyone, not even him.
Domeki fired off a particularly well shot arrow and it hit the spirit dead on. There was a pop and the rain continued to pour.
“Has it dissipated?” Domeki asked, looking around for it.
“No.”
The spirit reappeared and Domeki continued firing at it. This time, it wasn’t enough. The spirit moved past him, aimed at Watanuki and the child. Fear flashed through him. He had to do something.
A thought occurred to him and his hands were reacting even before he realized it. He shot at the bottle, releasing the liquid everywhere. And then it was all over.
“Why did you shoot the bottle?” Watanuki asked him.
“It was supposed to be a bottle you set aside, so you wouldn’t normally be drinking it so soon. But you took the odd step of putting it on a tray. And the bottle mouth is tied with a sealing ward. I know you Watanuki. It’s a miki, then?”
“Yes, they have the power to exercise.” Watanuki knelt there, bleeding all over, until he softly uttered, “Here it comes.”
Domeki looked at what he was looking at. “A rainbow?” he asked lightly.
“No, a bridge.”
Watanuki said his goodbyes but he waited until the child was out of sight before collapsing against Domeki. Domeki caught him, cradling his injured body. He couldn’t even find it in him to be angry, not in these circumstances. Watanuki closed his eyes, slipping into unconciousness.
“Everything okay?” Mokona asked from inside the room.
Domeki glanced down at his husband. “I’m not injured, but it’s been a while since he was this badly injured. He’s gotten so good at managing the wishes that he mostly needs to worry about his falls. Never gets any easier. He didn’t defend himself, because he was worried about the little one taking it as rejection. He just endured it the best he could.”
Domeki picked up Watanuki and carried him to their bedroom. Another chance to care for his stupid boy. Mokona, Maru and Moro followed.
“I’m sorry. I got him injured,” Domeki apologized to the girls. The shop, and Watanuki especially, were their whole world.
He found no blame from them though. They hugged him, their childlike voices ringing out, “thank you!”
Domeki sat on the floor against the bed and sighed deeply. It was time to take up his vigil.
“Sometimes I think I should’ve studied medicine.”
“Why didn’t you?” Mokona asked curiously.
“Mm, well, folklore suited me better. And I thought that in the long run it would help me more with my work here at the shop. I enjoy teaching, but I’ve always just wanted to be there for him. Everything else seems so trivial in comparison.”
“Rest, we’ll watch over him now.”
It seemed a lifetime ago that he’d first sat in this position. Waiting for Watanuki to wake up from horrible injuries. Waiting to see if he would recover. All those years ago, Domeki had waited outside of Watanuki’s recovery room. Back against the wall, listening for any sounds of distress.
There had been too much distance between them to go in. And he had cared too much about Watanuki to leave. He had remained there, in limbo, until Watanuki was strong enough to stand on his own. At the time, it had felt eternal. Those moments seemed to last a lifetime each. He had barely eaten or slept. Just lived there waiting for a glimpse of life.
It was different now. He still sat, with his back to Watanuki, but this time he wasn’t outside the room, but in it. Back against the bed, not the wall. Ears carefully tuned to the sounds that Watanuki might make. Most importantly, he allowed himself to sleep.
He closed his eyes, assured that inside the shop Watanuki would recover. He hated the injuries that plagued his love, but he understood why he had let them happen. The child had been thrown away. Unwanted, unneeded and tossed aside. A rejection like that would follow them into their next life. But Watanuki had made it better. Attended to them, made them feel liked and loved. They would be able to move on.
So, Domeki slept. Back against the bed, listening to his love recover. Knowing that the morning would bring new challenges.
Watanuki’s recovery happened slowly. He was as badly injured as he had been in the past. However, it seemed that the wounds from partially paid wishes weren’t about harm, they were about hurt. They were about the immediate pain, not injury. Once that pain had been paid, they could be healed away, magically or naturally.
The same could not be said of the wounds from the spirit. It had wanted the child, and it had been more than willing to harm Watanuki to get at it.
Domeki supported him carefully, helping him walk out to the back porch. Watanuki had already seen his customer for the day, so he would be able to spend the day resting and recovering. He still moved slowly, but some of the tenderness had clearly faded.
Domeki got him settled with his pipe. It was time to do the chore he was never allowed to do. That no one was allowed to do. Water the plants that lined the border of the courtyard.
Watanuki was incredibly particular about them. He knew each plant exactly and he knew exactly how much water each of them should get. He wouldn’t tolerate them getting any more or any less than their exact amounts.
It was a chore Domeki had attempted and failed many times. However, this time, they didn’t have a choice. Watanuki could barely walk out to them, and he definitely couldn’t take the time to do what he wanted to.
“Okay, I have a plan for this. I’ll tell you to start pouring and stop pouring and then that should get you close to how much water I want on each plant.” Watanuki puffed once on his pipe. He’d been smoking a lot since he’d been injured. The options for treating pain in the shop were limited. So, he’d do everything in his power just to manage it.
“Alright, tell me where to start.” Domeki should’ve been annoyed at this process. But he found it impossible. Watanuki took care in all of his actions. He approached life carefully, having been honed by so much tragedy. It was such a rare feature, Domeki couldn’t help but love him. Couldn’t help but adore him for the actions he took.
Watanuki stumbled a little. Domeki looked up from where he was watering the plants in the courtyard again. Apparently he had satisfied Watanuki well enough that he believed him capable. Which was a good thing, because there was no way he was going to be able to do the watering himself, even though he was getting stronger by the day. It was more labor intensive that people realized.
Watanuki was supposed to be sweeping the stone clean. A chore that was easier than the watering for him to do. A bit of light exercise to get him back on his feet after being so stagnant for so long. If he got tired he could rest, but more likely he would finish and head back in the house. However, that didn’t mean he was allowed to be unsupervised.
Domeki kept a close eye on him. He may have been doing well, but that didn’t mean he was finished healing. He glanced away for a minute to focus on the watering and when he looked back, Watanuki had stopped sweeping. More than that, his eyes had a distant glazed look and were starting to drift closed.
When Watanuki slipped into the dream world, he looked as though he was still conscious. Often standing or sitting in places with his eyes wide open. That was not what this was. This was something completely different. Something dangerous.
Domeki was dropping the watering can before his conscious mind had even registered what had happened. He knew what a fall looked like and Watanuki was about to have one. Watanuki took a shaking step toward the open gate and then the dizziness took hold of him.
And he fell.