XXXHolic Fan Fiction ❯ Kitsune Bi - An xXxHolic Fan-Fiction ❯ Four ( Chapter 4 )

Kitsune Bi - An xXxHolic Fan-Fiction
By Ookami Kasumi

All characters property of CLAMP
Warning: Mature (NC-17) - Yaoi content, adult language, mild violence

Chapter Four

 

Kimihiro blinked. Though he sat on the long porch facing the sliding doors that led into the house's main room, the low black dining table was gone, as were Yuuko, Mokona, and Doumeki.

Poorly stifled chuckling came from the immediate right.

Kimihiro turned.

A man that looked very like Doumeki, but for the green and gold formal robes, and the cigarette in his hand, sat hunched over on the very edge of the porch. One hand was clamped over his mouth, with his other arm bent across his stomach, carefully holding his cigarette away from his flowing clothes. His entire body shook.

Kimihiro frowned. “Haruka-san?”

Haruka released his mouth and laughter came rolling out. “Oh gods…” Gasping for breath, he wiped at his eyes. “Watanuki-kun…” Breathless chuckles escaped him. “Watanuki-kun, I knew you were delicate, but I had no idea just how much of a princess you truly were!”

“What?” Kimihiro flinched back to sprawl with his knees splayed. “A princess…?”

“Watanuki-kun…” Haruka shook his head and grinned. “I could understand you being shocked by anal sex, but you…” He snickered. “You…” He covered his mouth with one hand and waved the other hand in Kimihiro's direction. “You…fainted!” He threw back his head and laughed.

Kimihiro's cheeks warmed fiercely. He hadn't intended to…pass out, it just…happened. He folded his arms across his chest and scowled. “Well, what they were describing was…was utterly indecent!”

“Watanuki-kun…” Haruka took a deep breath and wiped at the tears sliding down his cheeks. “Sex generally is indecent.” He turned and smiled. “Especially good sex.”

“Haruka-san…!” Kimihiro threw his arms up over his head in an attempt to keep those images from returning to his mind, not that it helped any. “You approve of that sort of thing between men?”

Haruka snorted. “Attraction is a natural part of life. As long as both parties desire each other, what is not to approve of?”

Kimihiro frowned in confusion. “But isn't…that sort of thing against your beliefs?” He was a Buddhist, wasn't he?

Haruka smiled and it echoed Doumeki's sinister smirk. “Not at all. Our sect believes that embracing earthly pleasure as a way toward enlightenment.”

Embracing earthly pleasure…? Kimihiro suddenly had the feeling that he was swimming in extremely dark water. Apparently, there was an awful lot about Haruka-san and Doumeki that he knew nothing about.

Haruka leaned toward Kimihiro, pointing with his cigarette. “You know about using lube, correct?”

Kimihiro turned away, his face on fire. Not that again! “Yes.”

Haruka nodded. “Good, just remember to push out.”

In complete frustration, Kimihiro threw both his arms in the air. “What is this…'push out' business?”

Haruka very casually examined his cigarette. “When you're being entered, pushing out opens the body and keeps penetration from being painful.”

Penetration… A small squeak of stunned horror escaped Kimihiro's lips. He turned very slowly to look over at Haruka. “You mean it really does go…?”

Haruka's lips curved upward in the same mild smile he usually wore, and he nodded. “Yep, up the ass.”

Kimihiro's imagination suddenly supplied him with a very graphic image of two sweating bodies, one straining over the other. “Oh gods…!” He wiped his face with both hands to drive the image from his mind. When that didn't work, he lunged to his feet and scrambled off the porch to onto the night-dark lawn.

Haruka chuckled. “Oh! The princess didn't faint this time!”

Kimihiro turned around to face him and wrapped his arms around his middle. “I am not a princess!”

Haruka lifted a brow “Oh no?” He smiled and gestured with his cigarette. “If you were any more delicate, we'd have to keep you under glass.”

“I am not that damned delicate!” Kimihiro jabbed a thumb at his chest. “I've had to deal with life-threatening situations, by myself, practically all of my solitary life!”

Haruka lifted his brow. “Which is why it's so strange that sex shocks you so badly.”

Kimihiro shook his head and sighed heavily. “Why does everyone want to talk about…s-sex?”

Haruka grinned. “Look at that, you can even say the word!”

Kimihiro stomped his foot. “Of course I can say the word!”

Haruka rolled his eyes. “I was beginning to wonder…”

Kimihiro ground his teeth. Just because he didn't like using crude words… He threw out his hands. “I'm trying to be serious here!”

Haruka lifted a brow and his smile faded. “So am I.” He pointed with his cigarette. “If you're going to have sex, forewarned is forearmed.”

Kimihiro flinched back. That was what Doumeki had said. He scowled. “Who says I'm going to have sex?” The word came out even easier that time.

Haruka rose to his feet and turned slightly away. “Are you planning to stay a virgin your entire life?”

Kimihiro bit down on his bottom lip. “Well no, but…”

Haruka nodded. “Then, you should know what to expect.”

Kimihiro shook his head. Everyone was missing the point! “Haruka-san, I don't expect to have sex with men!”

Haruka grinned. “Ah, but they expect to have sex with you, princess.”

Kimihiro blinked. They expect sex…with me? Shock kicked his heart so hard his entire body shuddered. He sucked in a deep breath as though coming up from underwater, and opened his eyes…to a very close view of a rather firm butt clad in snug black trousers only inches from his nose.

Apparently, he was bent over someone's broad shoulder, rather like a bag of rice. Despite the nearly upside-down position, his glasses had remained hooked over his ears, though they were crooked. He lifted his head to straighten his glasses and saw that he in Yuuko's house and being carried up the hall toward his bedroom.

He swallowed hard. He had a really bad feeling he knew whose shoulder he was draped over, and hoped to the Gods that he was wrong. “Um… You can put me down.”

“Can you stand?” Doumeki's voice was calm, deep, and vibrated in the shoulder right under his belly.

Kimihiro winced and covered his face with his hands. Why couldn't he have been wrong? He was wrong so many damned times, why couldn't this be one of them? “Just…put me down.” He wanted to scream it at the top of his lungs, but the pressure on his belly didn't allow for enough breath.

“All right.” Doumeki's hands closed around Kimihiro's waist, and he bent forward a little.

Kimihiro tilted up and suddenly he was slowly sliding down Doumeki's chest within the larger boy's encircling arms. His hips slid past Doumeki's and he felt a very firm ridge in the region of the groin. Doumeki was erect. Heat filled his cheeks and slithered downward. I sooo did not need to know that!

Haruka-san's words echoed in his mind. “They expect to have sex with you…”

A warm fluttery sensation erupted in Kimihiro's belly. His feet touched the ground and his legs buckled.

Doumeki snorted and grabbed Kimihiro by the upper arms, keeping him from collapsing on the floor. His brow lifted and the ghost of a smirk curved his lips. “I thought you could stand?”

Stupid knees… Kimihiro forced his wobbling knees to work, and pressed his palms against Doumeki's chest. “I'm standing. You can let go now.” He kept his chin tucked, completely unable to look Doumeki in the eye.

“What if I don't want to?”

“Eh?” Kimihiro looked up in spite of himself.

Doumeki's bright gold gaze was focused with intent under lowered brows and his chest tense under Kimihiro's palms. Other than that, he was completely expressionless, and far, far, far too close. “What if I want…to kiss you?”

Kiss…me? Kimihiro stared up at him, his eyes wide, and his heart beating in his mouth. He hadn't thought his face could get any hotter. Apparently, he was wrong. Burning with embarrassment, his temper flared. “Are you completely out of your mind?”

Doumeki's hands tightened on Kimihiro's upper arms. “Probably.” He leaned forward with clear intent.

He's serious? Kimihiro backpedaled hard. His back and head slammed into the wall. “D-Doumeki, I-I'm not a girl.” His voice came out entirely too breathless.

Doumeki snorted and leaned closer, his smirk appearing. “I know.”

“You know?” Kimihiro grabbed Doumeki's sleeves to shove him back. It was like pushing against a tree. When the hell had he gotten so damned…solid? “If you know, then what the hell are you doing?” He swung his right fist out, hoping to knock some sense into the side of his thick head.

Doumeki caught Kimihiro's wrist and slammed it against the wall, pinning it above Kimihiro's head. He lunged in and pressed his opposite forearm against the wall by Kimihiro's head, blocking Kimihiro's left hand. “What am I doing?” He jammed his knee against the wall between Kimihiro's legs. “What does it look like?”

Kimihiro's jaw slackened and his lips parted but no sound escaped. He didnot just pin me to the wall.

Doumeki's open mouth swooped down to press firmly against Kimihiro's parted lips. Breath mingled.

Kimihiro stiffened, completely shocked. He… He… He… Doumeki is kissing me? He gathered breath to shout…

Doumeki tongue slid into Kimihiro's open mouth and delivered a warm wet caress.

Kimihiro pushed back with his own tongue purely out of self defense. He couldn't help noticing the slight burn of sake on Doumeki's tongue, but there was another flavor there, something muskier, and very masculine. The warm fluttery sensation abruptly became hot thick syrup that spilled downward and tightened with ferocious speed. A tiny moan escaped.

Doumeki turned his head slightly, fitting his mouth snugly over Kimihiro's, and continued to apply his tongue, lapping, stroking, and tasting as though Kimihiro's mouth was his most favorite dessert.

Kimihiro shuddered under the assault of Doumeki's clearly expert tongue. His thoughts began to scatter. He was forced to widen his mouth to breathe. Saliva began to dribble from the corner of his lips. His pants tightened uncomfortably and his knees wobbled under him. He shifted to the side, seeking escape, or relief. He couldn't tell. It was so hard to think past the tongue moving against his.

Doumeki leaned in, pressing up against Kimihiro, chest to chest, belly to belly, pelvis to pelvis…

Erection against erection.

Kimihiro shuddered hard. Oh shit… Doumeki was definitely erect. So was he. He was erect, really, really, painfully erect. Damn it, even his nipples were erect. They actually ached. They were both erect…and kissing. Oh god… This was not good.

Doumeki pressed in, deliberately rubbing his thigh against Kimihiro's crotch, and groaned in obvious delight.

Raw pleasure washed straight up from Kimihiro's dick and whitewashed his brain. Pressure, there was pressure against his dick, and it felt so good, and so bad. It was too much, and not enough. He wanted… He wanted more. He tightened his legs around the hard thigh between them and arched up to rub his chest, and his aching nipples, against Doumeki's hard chest while rubbing his dick in delicious counterpoint against the ridge of Doumeki's hip. He moaned straight into Doumeki's mouth.

Doumeki obligingly increased the pressure and the speed against Kimihiro's hip, spreading his feet wide to support them both against the wall.

Kimihiro writhed against him, sucking on Doumeki's tongue as though starved. More, damn it. He needed more! He wanted… He wanted to cum. He wanted to cum so bad… So, so, so bad… Soft whimpers sounded in his throat. Just a little more…

The sound of soft clapping broke Kimihiro's concentration.

Doumeki's mouth broke away. He released Kimihiro's wrist and turned to look back up the hall.

“Eh?” Kimihiro grabbed onto Doumeki's shoulders, gasping for breath. “What…?”

“Well, that took care of that rather nicely.” The voice was feminine, elegant, and completely smug.

Kimihiro felt a shaft of ice spear straight through his gut. Oh shit… He turned his head to his right to fast he heard it snap, crackle, and pop.

Yuuko flicked open a golden fan made of sheer lace and smiled behind it. Strangely, the blue cloud and red butterfly pattern on the fan blended seamlessly with the same pattern on her outer robe.

Kimihiro shook his head. He should have been used to seeing that stuff by now.

Yuuko tilted her head coyly. “Enjoy your first kiss, Watanuki-kun?” Her brow lifted. “You seem to be a little reluctant to let Doumeki-kun go.”

“Huh?” Kimihiro suddenly realized that he had the shoulders of Doumeki's white school jacket clutched in both hands. He jerked his hands away.

Doumeki turned sharply to Kimihiro, his eyes a hair wider than normal. His cheeks held a definite pink to them, but his lips were very red, and very moist.

Yuuko lifted her chin and focused her cinnamon gaze on Doumeki. “I believe Watanuki-kun has had enough excitement for one night. Don't you think?”

Doumeki turned to Yuuko and his expression smoothed out to nothing at all. He bowed deeply to Yuuko.

Yuuko's smile widened. “No apology?”

The corners of Doumeki's mouth tilted slightly downward and his gaze became half-lidded. His gaze drifted to Kimihiro, and heated to molten gold. His tongue flashed out to lick his bottom lip. He turned back to Yuuko and lifted his chin. “No.”

Kimihiro sucked in a breath. He couldn't decide if he should be pissed that Doumeki wouldn't apologize for the kiss, or relieved that Doumeki didn't regret doing it.

Yuuko snapped her fan closed and crossed her arms under her generous bosom. “Good.”

Doumeki subtly grabbed the side seam of his trousers and tugged just a little. “It's late.”

Yuuko twitched at the skirts of her flowing robes and turned to face back down the hallway. “Why so it is, and you do have school tomorrow.” She looked over her shoulder, her smiling glance moving from one boy to the other. “We will see the appropriate…response tomorrow, will we not, Doumeki-kun?”

Doumeki nodded firmly. “Yes.”

“Excellent.” Yuuko moved down the hallway, her robes whispering behind her. “I look forward to seeing your hand.”

Doumeki turned to look at Kimihiro. His brows lowered over his hard gold eyes. “I won't apologize.” His voice was low and fierce. “I have no regrets.” He turned and stalked up the hallway after Yuuko.

Trembling violently, Kimihiro slid down the wall to sprawl on the floor in the empty hallway. He has no regrets, but I do. He covered his burning face with both hands and a small moan escaped his lips. He couldn't decide if he wanted to scream or burst into tears, but Oh god, he was still so hard it hurt.

Why did that bastard have to be such a good kisser?

Why was he even thinking about it?

Groaning in dismay, Kimihiro fled to his assigned bedroom, slapped on the light, grabbed the sleeping robe from the stool, and dashed into the bathroom to change. He couldn't get out of his sweaty school uniform fast enough.

He was still hard, and dripping.

Kimihiro turned on the shower at full blast and stepped in. He squirted liquid soap on the scrubbing pouf and lathered his face, his neck, his chest… He winced. His nipples were still hard. He scrubbed his belly, his back, his legs, his butt…

His erection had gone nowhere. In fact, the crown had become a dark purple and the whole thing ached in time with his pounding heart.

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

He set his forearm against the slick white tile wall and groaned. He knew what he had to do, he'd heard all about it in the locker room. He took a deep breath. It's nothing. It's normal. Every guy does this. Hell, according to most of what he'd overheard, most guys did this several times a day. It just wasn't something he'd needed to do before…before…

Before the kiss.

He scowled. Never mind that! Just do it! He wrapped his hand around…himself, and stroked from the base to the tip of the crown. Carnal pleasure jolted all the way up his spine. A soft moan left his lips. It felt sooo good. He began to stroke in earnest, encouraging the sparks of pleasure to build into something bigger, something hotter.

His feet slid a bit further apart and he braced against the wall until he was pumping hid hips and thrusting into his own hand. His heart thundered in his chest and his breath escaped in pants. Thought-blinding delight spilled through him in increasingly intense waves. Oh god, is this was sex feels like? No wonder everyone is in such a panic to have it!

His balls tightened deliciously. He was almost there, almost…there…

Suddenly Doumeki's face flashed in his mind, accompanied by the sensation of Doumeki's hand tight around his wrist, holding him in place. He could almost hear him whispering against his ear. “Cum for me.”

Fierce pleasure detonated deep in his balls and exploded up his spine. He arched and came up on his toes. His mouth opened on a gasping moan he could not hold back. Thick, hot fluid pumped up and out, spilling over his hand to spatter against the white tile, prolonging the brutally pleasurable clenching inside him. His choking gasps echoed in the small glass-enclosed shower stall.

Kimihiro collapsed against the white tile, panting softly, his heart still pounding. He closed his eyes against the burning in his cheeks. I will not be embarrassed over something every teenaged male does!

But did other guys imagine being pinned to the wall by another guy while they were doing it?

Shut up! He swung out a fist as though to beat away the thought. Utterly refusing to think of anything at all, he turned off the water and toweled himself dry. While cleaning up the shower, he went over the following day's lunch menu. His thoughts automatically circled to what Doumeki had requested, which led him straight back into the kiss in the hallway.

He'd damned near cum in his pants. If Yuuko hadn't stopped them, he probably would have.

He cringed. How the hell was he supposed to face Doumeki tomorrow after…that? Would Doumeki try to kiss him again? A warm syrupy feeling coiled low in his belly.

Stop that! He threw the cleaning rag against the wall. If he tries it again, I'll punch him! He raised his fist and shook it. I will! Definitely. He collected the cleaning rag and put it back in the basket under the sink by the other cleaning supplies. Who the hell did Doumeki think he was anyway? Going around and kissing people! Overgrown, arrogant, pervert!

Kimihiro stepped into fresh boxers, then shrugged into his sleeping robe, and carried his uniform out into the bedroom proper. Automatically he opened the sliding closet door to collect a fresh uniform, and dump his clothes into the laundry hamper.

Doumeki's masculine scent rose from the hamper.

Kimihiro shivered and slammed the closet door closed. He slapped off the light and practically bolted to the bed bury his head under the pillows.

* * *

Morning came at its usual time, and Kimihiro sat up among the butterfly curtains to once again, start yet another school day. He yawned and stretched. He hadn't dreamed at all. In fact, he couldn't remember sleeping quite so soundly in ages.

The day was already starting out well.

Take a shower. Don't think about last night. Dress. Still no whiskers. Fold his robe, make the bed, leave the room, and follow the landmarks to the kitchen. Put on the smock, finish last night's dishes, start the breakfast, make the lunches… Don't think about last night.

The kitchen door slammed open and a sweet childish voice called out. “Good morning Watanuki-kun!”

Kimihiro turned with a smile. “Good morning Mokona…”

A round black blur lunched toward him and landed against his face. A wet kiss planted itself against his mouth.

Kimihiro tipped backwards, his arms pin-wheeling. “Gyaaa!” He landed on his butt and grabbed the fuzzy black bunny creature, pulling it from his face. “What are you doing?”

Mokona giggled. “I thought you liked kissing?”

Kimihiro stared at him. “What?”

A slender white furry blur snaked up his pant leg and writhed around in his clothes.

“Hieee!” Kimihiro released Mokona to writhe about on the floor in an attempt to catch the ticklish pipe fox. Had the fox always spent that much time snaking around in his boxers?

A feminine chuckle came from the doorway. “Ah, enjoying your morning I see.”

The pipe fox slid from Kimihiro's collar to press tiny licks to his cheek.

Sprawled flat on the floor, Kimihiro stroked a finger down the pipe fox's tiny head, thoroughly thankful that he washed the tiled kitchen floor every single day. “Good morning Yuuko-san.”

“A letter has arrived for you.”

Kimihiro sat up. “A letter, for me?”

Resplendent in her flowing morning robes of red and purple with gold butterflies, Yuuko smiled and nodded. “A very formal letter, and it was hand delivered, so set another plate for breakfast.”

Kimihiro climbed to his feet and dusted off his smock. “Where is it?”

Yuuko reaching into her voluminous sleeve and pulled out what looked like a rather ornately folded paper tied crosswise with a slender blue cord with silver tassels. “You may read it during breakfast.”

Kimihiro frowned. “Why not now?”

Yuuko shook her head. “This is a formal letter, which requires proper appreciation.”

Kimihiro puzzled over that. “So… Not in the kitchen, eh?”

Yuuko winked. “Correct.” She turned away and waved the decorative paper. “No dawdling in the kitchen today!”

Kimihiro folded his arms and snorted. “You just want to see what it says.”

Yuuko's laughter trilled from the hallway. “Absolutely!”

Kimihiro turned back to the stove and the western omelets and shredded potato hash browns he was making. Who would write him a letter? Only a handful of people even knew he was here. And how had they delivered it? As far as he knew, no one could even pass the gateposts without needing a wish granted.

Only one way to find out…

* * *

Kimihiro finished packing the bag with bento box lunches and the thermos of tea, then carried it out to set it by the front door with his school briefcase.

Just to one side of the stair leading up into the house proper, sat a pair of black shoes, an identical briefcase, and a very tall, thoroughly familiar cloth case.

Doumeki was here.

Kimihiro took a deep steadying breath. I can handle this. He turned back toward the kitchen and the breakfast he was about to serve. Don't think about last night. Don't think about last night. Don't think about last night.

* * *

Seated at the dining table on the back porch, Kimihiro concentrated on eating his omelet while feeding tidbits to the pipe fox wrapped around his neck. He was very careful not to look over at Doumeki on his immediate left.

Yuuko cooed over her six cheese and ham omelet, eating each bite with relish. “You are such a wonderful cook, Watanuki-kun!”

Mokona bounced in his seat. “Watanuki-kun will make a good wife!”

Kimihiro brandished his fork. “I can't be a mother or a wife, you overfed pork bun! I am not a woman!”

Yuuko twirled her fork and smiled. “Oh, I don't know… I think you could very easily act the part of both wife and mother.” She set her folk down. “At the very least, a domestic partner.”

Kimihiro sighed. “I'm only good at housework because I had to do it, not because I wanted to do it.”

Yuuko shook her head. “You are practically a wizard in the kitchen, Watanuki-kun. That comes from true talent.” She smiled slyly. “And dedication to one's craft.”

Watanuki folded his arms and snorted. “It comes from having nothing better to do when one can't leave the house because of attacking spirits.”

Yuuko clasped her hands. “Then you must be so happy to finally be able to come and go as you please without being chased!”

Kimihiro rubbed his aching brow. “Oh yes, I can come and go as I please, as long as I'm accompanied by my near-constant bodyguard.” Out of the corner of his eye, he took the tiniest glimpse at Doumeki.

Doumeki sat silently, his arms folded and his expression even blander than normal. He'd finished every scrap on his plate.

Yuuko lifted her chin. “See, Doumeki-kun, you are appreciated!” She thrust her hand into her sleeve. “And on that note, Watanuki-kun, here is your letter!” She withdrew the cord-tied folded paper and presented it to Kimihiro with a flourish.

Kimihiro untied the blue cord, unfolded the colored paper, and realized that he was holding an extremely fine sheet of parchment. The top had been stained pale blue and the bottom a golden wood tone. The very center held a beautifully stylized, prancing white stallion caparisoned in blue fringe. To the right of the horse was a long bow. A poem was written to either side of the white horse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The true drawn arrow

-- arches the quivering bow.

A breath and release.

The shadows part around you.

 

Tender are your scolding lips.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The red wax seal on the far left was a pair of crossed arrows with what looked like horse-shoes instead of arrowheads under a stylized diving crane with its wings spread wide.

It was Doumeki's personal seal. The letter was from him.

Yuuko leaned over Watanuki's shoulder. “Oh…! The poem is done in the Heian tanka style! The horse painting is particularly lovely.” She leaned past Watanuki to look over at Doumeki. “How very traditional, I'm impressed!”

Mokona leaned against her arm. His mouth opened wide. “Ooooh! Pretty!”

Watanuki swallowed. It wasn't pretty, it was gorgeous. The whole thing was hand done, from the watercolor stain on the parchment to the horse painted in the center. He hadn't seen anything like it outside of a museum. “This is…incredible.” He looked over at Doumeki. “And this is for me?”

Doumeki nodded, his gaze firmly on the table. There was the slightest pink to his cheeks. “I copied the horse from one of my grandfather's prints.”

Doumeki shook his head, stunned. “How long did it take you to do all this?”

Doumeki's cheeks darkened from pink to red. “I've been working on for…a while.”

Yuuko set her chin on her hand and propped her elbow on the table. “Several months, at the very least.” She smiled.

Doumeki nodded.

Yuuko clasped her hands together and sighed dramatically. “What a romantic love letter!” She looked over at Watanuki. “Don't you think?”

Watanuki stared at her. “Eh?”

Yuuko smiled. “Watanuki-kun, that poem was written just for you, can't you tell?”

Watanuki looked back over the poem and frowned at the last line. Tender are your… He turned to glare at Doumeki. “Scolding lips?”

Doumeki lifted his cup of tea and glanced over at Watanuki. His lips lifted in the tiniest of curves. He nodded, and sipped.

Watanuki waved his hand. “Wait, are you saying you like when I yell at you?”

Yuuko smiled. “Actually, I think he's saying he likes having a way to silence you.”

Doumeki glanced at Yuuko, then sipped his tea.

Watanuki slapped a hand across his forehead. “Only you would write a sarcastic love letter!” He froze. Love letter… His heart began to pound. This was a love letter from Doumeki. He slowly turned to look at Doumeki. His heart was beating so hard, he could barely get the words out. “You're in love, with me?”

Doumeki set his cup down, and looked Watanuki dead in the eye. “Yes.”

Mokona bounced at Yuuko's elbow. “Spring-spring! Love-love! Spring has come to Watanuki-kun!”

A shudder wracked Kimihiro's body. His mind went completely blank. He very carefully folded the letter.

Yuuko snatched it from his hand. “I'll hold that for you!” She shoved the folded parchment back into her sleeve.

Kimihiro stared his empty hands then slowly rose and collect the breakfast dishes.

Yuuko grinned at Doumeki. “That went well, don't you think?”

Doumeki snorted. “It certainly shut him up, for once.”

Kimihiro shot a glare at Doumeki. “Shut who up?” He snatched Doumeki's plate and cup. “You are such a massive pain in my ass! Who asked you to come into my life and turn everything upside down? Who? Not me…!”

Doumeki rolled his eyes and stuffed his index finger into the ear closest to Kimihiro.

* * *

By the time Kimihiro snatched up the bag with the lunches and stepped into his shoes, he was in a fine refreshing lather. “Overgrown, muscle-bound, arrogant, perverted, pain in my ass…! Just see if I ever invite you to dinner again!”

Yuuko chuckled. “You don't invite him, I do.”

Kimihiro grabbed his briefcase. “Because you're in on it! I know you are, so don't even try to deny it!”

Yuuko snapped out yet another fan that perfectly matched the pattern on her robes. She lifted it to shield her broad grin. “You are so suspicious, Watanuki-kun. Love-spells are not my forte.”

Doumeki silently put on his shoes, then lifted his bow case and slid his arm through the long strap.

Yuuko lifted her chin. “Watanuki-kun, make sure you walk back with Doumeki-kun.”

Kimihiro froze, then turned sharply on his heel. “What? Again?”

Yuuko pointed at Kimihiro with her fan. “Don't you want to walk home with your new boyfriend?”

Boyfriend…? Kimihiro felt the blood leave his cheeks, and a small screech escaped his lips. “I'm going! Good-bye!” He headed for the gateposts that marked the edge of her compound at top speed.

Doumeki followed close at his heels.

They rushed through the gateposts and took a sharp left onto the sidewalk, stepping right past a delicate origami fox folded from violet paper.

Yuuko went to her gate, lifted the origami fox, and unfolded the paper. Her brows drew close together and she frowned. “Oh dear, I thought this might happen.” She leaned out and looked up the street.

Kimihiro and Doumeki were little more than fast moving blurs heading toward their high school.

She sighed and read the poem once more.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night

-- your brief touch,

Sparked longing

-- for your regard.

Such tender beauty

Yet to know a warm embrace

 

My sword it weeps,

-- For your sheath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Yuuko shook her head and swept back up the stone path, heading toward her house.

Mokona bounced up onto her shoulder. “Is that another letter?”

Yuuko nodded. “I'm afraid so.” She tilted the letter so the small creature could read it.

Mokona frowned. “Nicely done, but very bold.”

“I've been expecting something like this.” Yuuko swept up onto her porch and opened her door. “Watanuki-kun is entirely too attractive for his own good.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Original poems in the Heian Tanka style by Ookami Kasumi.