storypaint (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
storypaint) wrote2009-08-03 03:18 pm
storypaint) wrote2009-08-03 03:18 pm
Entry tags:
Waiting (Watanuki gen)
Title: Waiting
Fandom: xxxHOLiC
Length: 416 words
Prompt: n/a
Pairing: Watanuki gen
Other: Spoilers for xH 185.
Excerpt: The kimono still smelled like her, like old smoke and sake and something floral underneath. It was a familiar smell, one that made his eyes burn. He shut them and breathed.
The kimono still smelled like her, like old smoke and sake and something floral underneath. It was a familiar smell, one that made his eyes burn. He shut them and breathed.
She'd always urged him to make his own decisions. Even when Himawari was (never intentionally) hurting him, Yuuko never told him to stop seeing her. She warned him, of course, but she let him fall, all the same.
And then she rescued him, patched him together like a doll with magic that he still couldn't understand, even after all this time with her. She'd known so many things she hadn't told him. Perhaps he had no magic of his own.
But she let him make his own decisions, and he'd learned what prices were equivalent to what wishes. He'd learned that humans could bind themselves with words, and he'd learned that nothing happened by coincidence.
Hitsuzen. He'd promised her he'd wait, and that was his decision, for better or ill. He picked up the heavy kimono and draped it over his shoulders, hardly hearing the words he spoke to Doumeki. Even with his ability to see through Watanuki's eye, Doumeki wouldn't understand this. He was not Yuuko's employee, Yuuko's surrogate son, Yuuko's client (just the once, and that had tied them together enough, but his wish was one of bloody practicality and Watanuki's was stronger than that).
He hoped a little that Himawari would come to visit. He hoped that Doumeki would go shopping with a minimum of fuss. Hopes, but not wishes-- he had his wish to grant for himself. She wouldn't grant it, she wouldn't stay, so he had to do it. That was his decision.
He sat down next to Mokona on the porch and picked up the pipe. The smoke choked him, but he didn't stop until the burn sidled down to his lungs and rested there. Mokona leaned against him. He petted it.
He looked up at the sky, and then took another drag on the pipe. It might be a long time to wait, but he had all the time she didn't use. She hadn't chosen to have her time paused, but he'd made the decision.
She'd come back. He'd be here.
Doumeki's footsteps came, slow but steady. He sat down on the porch next to Watanuki, still frowning a little. Watanuki smiled Yuuko's secretive smile.
They'd be here, all of them, to welcome her home.
Fandom: xxxHOLiC
Length: 416 words
Prompt: n/a
Pairing: Watanuki gen
Other: Spoilers for xH 185.
Excerpt: The kimono still smelled like her, like old smoke and sake and something floral underneath. It was a familiar smell, one that made his eyes burn. He shut them and breathed.
The kimono still smelled like her, like old smoke and sake and something floral underneath. It was a familiar smell, one that made his eyes burn. He shut them and breathed.
She'd always urged him to make his own decisions. Even when Himawari was (never intentionally) hurting him, Yuuko never told him to stop seeing her. She warned him, of course, but she let him fall, all the same.
And then she rescued him, patched him together like a doll with magic that he still couldn't understand, even after all this time with her. She'd known so many things she hadn't told him. Perhaps he had no magic of his own.
But she let him make his own decisions, and he'd learned what prices were equivalent to what wishes. He'd learned that humans could bind themselves with words, and he'd learned that nothing happened by coincidence.
Hitsuzen. He'd promised her he'd wait, and that was his decision, for better or ill. He picked up the heavy kimono and draped it over his shoulders, hardly hearing the words he spoke to Doumeki. Even with his ability to see through Watanuki's eye, Doumeki wouldn't understand this. He was not Yuuko's employee, Yuuko's surrogate son, Yuuko's client (just the once, and that had tied them together enough, but his wish was one of bloody practicality and Watanuki's was stronger than that).
He hoped a little that Himawari would come to visit. He hoped that Doumeki would go shopping with a minimum of fuss. Hopes, but not wishes-- he had his wish to grant for himself. She wouldn't grant it, she wouldn't stay, so he had to do it. That was his decision.
He sat down next to Mokona on the porch and picked up the pipe. The smoke choked him, but he didn't stop until the burn sidled down to his lungs and rested there. Mokona leaned against him. He petted it.
He looked up at the sky, and then took another drag on the pipe. It might be a long time to wait, but he had all the time she didn't use. She hadn't chosen to have her time paused, but he'd made the decision.
She'd come back. He'd be here.
Doumeki's footsteps came, slow but steady. He sat down on the porch next to Watanuki, still frowning a little. Watanuki smiled Yuuko's secretive smile.
They'd be here, all of them, to welcome her home.