Woven (Kohane gen)

[storypaint]

Title: Woven
Fandom: xxxHOLiC
Length: 302 words
Prompt: 31_days: 28 Oct 09 // you have outgrown your first kimono
Pairing: Kohane gen; Yuuko and Watanuki
Other: Spoilers for ch184.

Excerpt: Yuuko wasn't like most people. She knew Kohane wasn't lying, but more importantly, she let her be a person, and make her own decisions.

Kohane knew, on some level, that Yuuko couldn't give presents, but when the witch disappeared before Kohane could return her kimono, she kept it. She hadn't known Yuuko as well as Kimihiro had, of course, but the wishgranter had been very kind to her. The kimono was only part of that. Yuuko had given her the opportunity to grant her own wish, and that was worth any amount of power in return.

Yuuko wasn't like most people. She knew Kohane wasn't lying, but more importantly, she let her be a person, and make her own decisions. She did it for Kimihiro too, using his wish to give him the opportunity for change. Yuuko was very wise, Kohane thought, and she would remember her fondly. She would keep her kimono, folded and safe. Yuuko didn't give gifts, so perhaps she could return it, if Yuuko came back like Kimihiro seemed to think she would.

Kohane wasn't so sure that Kimihiro would be a good shopkeeper. He cared too much, for Kohane and Yuuko and anyone who was hurting, and though Yuuko cared, she knew her business, and could make the difficult decisions. So Kohane worried. She didn't want Kimihiro to hurt.

She packed Yuuko's kimono into storage when the season changed, and Obaa-chan said nothing about it. She told Kimihiro's future, though, when Kohane asked (in exchange for a meal), and sent Kohane with the information that Kimihiro needed to know.

The world was re-forming around a new center, Kimihiro instead of Yuuko, and Kohane hoped her friend was strong enough. But he was granting his own wish, in waiting for Yuuko, so she knew he would be okay. Yuuko had guided him well, after all.

So when she visited, Kohane tried to smile.