XXXHolic Fan Fiction ❯ Failing You ❯ 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Title:  Failing You
Pairing: Doumeki/Watanuki
Rating: M
Length: 9 chapters. (This is #1) 
Summary: What would Doumeki do if he ever failed to save Watanuki? What would Watanuki do to stop him?

 

DISC: I do not own xxxHolic or any of the characters. These belong to Clamp - those crazy mangaka who make us all practically faint for the shonen-ai and then YANK it out from under us. Clamp, if I can have one request, it's to give us some DouWata love by the end of this series! PLEASE!

 

 

Chapter 1

 

“Ah. The evening's entertainment is finally waking up.”

 

Blinking and then shaking his head to try to clear it, Watanuki Kimihiro awoke feeling dazed and more than just a touch confused. The last thing he remembered…

 

“I don't want you to follow me all the time, you insufferable, annoying ass! First you hone in on my time with Himawari, then you almost get your dumb ass killed… ARGH! When are you ever going to understand? I don't want you around! You're nothing but a nuisance. Just leave me alone!” After screaming at his best friend, he took off running toward his apartment.

 

Really, Doumeki hadn't deserved that outburst. But, he was always so… Doumeki. Perfect and strong and annoying. It was so humiliating to have to depend on the stoic archer, to have him save his life again and again.

 

On their assignment earlier that evening, Doumeki had thrown himself in front of a spirit to protect Watanuki - and had gotten talon-like scratches down his back for his trouble. If he'd been a second later in turning around and firing his bow, he would have been killed. Watanuki had helped bandage him up afterward at Yuuko's. In a couple of places, he could actually see clear down to the bone before Yuuko used magic to heal him.

 

He turned the corner, running still, feeling guilty about yelling, feeling guiltier about the exorcist's injuries - he wouldn't have even gotten them if not for Watanuki - when suddenly, there was black, oily smoke. Before he could even cough, or even start to get scared, the world fell away.

 

Oh, crap.

 

Looking around, he saw nothing but white. No walls, no floor. He could see himself, naked, but it was his own body, so he probably wasn't dead.

 

“You remember now, my sweet little diversion? Mmmm. Yes.” Watanuki paled, looking everywhere for the source of the smooth voice that floated through the room - like oiled silk. “ Such pure flavor you bring. You're a tasty treat.” But no matter where he looked, he was alone. Alone in a world of white.

 

His heart was racing - enough so that he knew Doumeki was probably seeing what he was. But… if all there was to the world around him was white, Doumeki wouldn't even know where to look for him.

 

That was probably for the best, though. After all, just before he passed out, the smell of the evil, it was probably the strongest he'd ever encountered. This way, at least Doumeki would stay safe. He was too recently injured, he'd used too much of his spiritual power earlier. Even perfect Doumeki wouldn't be able to stand up to…

 

The sound of chuckling, like oil dripping into a pan, assaulted his ears. “Oh, you are amusing, aren't you? You think your little guard dog actually left you alone when you asked him to? Oh, my little clambake, no. While he doesn't have the depth of flavor you do - your unique blood - his purity is going to be a delight to destroy. He will be the aperitif to whet my appetite for you.'

 

And then, part of the white began to clear, like a misty veil being lifted, and Watanuki gasped at what he saw. Spread-eagled on the wall, head lolling to one side, locked in manacles, was his oft-time savior. A broken bow lay discarded at his feet.

 

“No,” he breathed.

 

“Oh, yes, little lark. I'm going to eat him piece by piece, and you're going to watch. But you know the best part? It's not going to happen until he's awake. So he can see you. Can witness exactly how I play with you. He'll be begging me to eat each part - to spare you for another minute. For each second I savor him is another second you get to live.

 

“And if, for a change, he decides to save himself rather than you, he'll get to witness you as the perfect meal.”

 

Watanuki sat heavily, his eyes wide, watching and hoping that Doumeki would somehow never wake up. He'd give up his own selfish wish. If Yuuko could hear him, would she swap out his old wish for this new one? Let him never wake. Save him.

 

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