storypaint (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
storypaint) wrote2011-07-03 01:57 am
storypaint) wrote2011-07-03 01:57 am
[xxxHOLiC] gray skies are going to clear up (Himawari/various)
Title: gray skies are going to clear up
Fandom: xxxHOLiC
Length: 536 words
Prompt: fic_promptly: xxxHolic, Himawari, what happened to her after Yuuko died
Pairing: Himawari/husband, slight Watanuki/Himawari, implied Doumeki/Watanuki
Other: n/a
Excerpt: "I love you," she tells him, because it's true. She doesn't tell him that she's going away, and he doesn't ask. He doesn't ask why she hasn't answered her phone, either. He simply says it back, and lets her go when she says she has to catch her bus. He is too full of grief already to mourn her and Yuuko both, and she'd rather he miss Yuuko more. It's safer.
She stays, after Yuuko dies, although she was prepared to leave. Watanuki has locked himself in a shop she can still see, but she ignores his phone calls and takes other routes, the ones that don't go by that street.
She feels like she has to. Yuuko had some kind of protection on Watanuki, some kind of protection from her, whether or not she'll admit it. Now Watanuki is vulnerable in all of the worst ways. The way that Doumeki sits down, shoulders slumped and strangely old, tells Himawari this. Watanuki has challenges ahead, and they shouldn't involve Himawari, because his life is complicated enough. It will take him time to develop the protections that Yuuko made, the protections Doumeki has naturally.
For a time she considers him, but he belongs to Watanuki, really. She stays through high school, but then she leaves. She calls Watanuki from a pay phone fifteen minutes before her bus arrives.
"I love you," she tells him, because it's true. She doesn't tell him that she's going away, and he doesn't ask. He doesn't ask why she hasn't answered her phone, either. He simply says it back, and lets her go when she says she has to catch her bus. He is too full of grief already to mourn her and Yuuko both, and she'd rather he miss Yuuko more. It's safer.
She goes to a shrine and asks sanctuary. The first priest doesn't recognize the bad luck she wears like a cloak, and she doesn't stay, because he is too vulnerable. She goes to another town, and that priest sees Yuuko on her, somehow. He smiles and lets her in, asking about the witch, and it is only polite to share the news in person. Three months later, the shrine is still standing, and no one has broken any limbs or been in any terrible accidents. She enrolls in university, through the internet, just to be safe.
The priest proposes, six months after that, and Watanuki sends his congratulations and makes her wedding kimono. When Doumeki arrives with it, he makes small talk with her fiance and Himawari smells pipesmoke on him. He looks as if he's aged ten years instead of one.
"Take care," she says, hugging him as he pauses in the doorway before leaving. "Take care of yourself, too."
Her fiance watches the scene with a bit of curiosity. He is quiet and respectful of her past. He knows that she'll tell him when she's ready. He is a better man than she ever expected to marry, and as she tells Doumeki (and Watanuki, through him), she really is happy.
"I will," Doumeki promises, squeezing her shoulder, gently, being careful of the scars on her neck.
She waves until she can't see him anymore.
"You should visit your friends sometime," her fiance suggests. He is always trying to make sure she's content with him. It's very sweet.
"Maybe I will," she says, taking his arm and smiling up at him as they turn to go back inside. "Maybe for his birthday."
Her fiance nods, indulgent, and they spend the rest of the afternoon quietly talking about Himawari's classes and the shrine.
Later that night, she shows him her scars for the first time.
Fandom: xxxHOLiC
Length: 536 words
Prompt: fic_promptly: xxxHolic, Himawari, what happened to her after Yuuko died
Pairing: Himawari/husband, slight Watanuki/Himawari, implied Doumeki/Watanuki
Other: n/a
Excerpt: "I love you," she tells him, because it's true. She doesn't tell him that she's going away, and he doesn't ask. He doesn't ask why she hasn't answered her phone, either. He simply says it back, and lets her go when she says she has to catch her bus. He is too full of grief already to mourn her and Yuuko both, and she'd rather he miss Yuuko more. It's safer.
She stays, after Yuuko dies, although she was prepared to leave. Watanuki has locked himself in a shop she can still see, but she ignores his phone calls and takes other routes, the ones that don't go by that street.
She feels like she has to. Yuuko had some kind of protection on Watanuki, some kind of protection from her, whether or not she'll admit it. Now Watanuki is vulnerable in all of the worst ways. The way that Doumeki sits down, shoulders slumped and strangely old, tells Himawari this. Watanuki has challenges ahead, and they shouldn't involve Himawari, because his life is complicated enough. It will take him time to develop the protections that Yuuko made, the protections Doumeki has naturally.
For a time she considers him, but he belongs to Watanuki, really. She stays through high school, but then she leaves. She calls Watanuki from a pay phone fifteen minutes before her bus arrives.
"I love you," she tells him, because it's true. She doesn't tell him that she's going away, and he doesn't ask. He doesn't ask why she hasn't answered her phone, either. He simply says it back, and lets her go when she says she has to catch her bus. He is too full of grief already to mourn her and Yuuko both, and she'd rather he miss Yuuko more. It's safer.
She goes to a shrine and asks sanctuary. The first priest doesn't recognize the bad luck she wears like a cloak, and she doesn't stay, because he is too vulnerable. She goes to another town, and that priest sees Yuuko on her, somehow. He smiles and lets her in, asking about the witch, and it is only polite to share the news in person. Three months later, the shrine is still standing, and no one has broken any limbs or been in any terrible accidents. She enrolls in university, through the internet, just to be safe.
The priest proposes, six months after that, and Watanuki sends his congratulations and makes her wedding kimono. When Doumeki arrives with it, he makes small talk with her fiance and Himawari smells pipesmoke on him. He looks as if he's aged ten years instead of one.
"Take care," she says, hugging him as he pauses in the doorway before leaving. "Take care of yourself, too."
Her fiance watches the scene with a bit of curiosity. He is quiet and respectful of her past. He knows that she'll tell him when she's ready. He is a better man than she ever expected to marry, and as she tells Doumeki (and Watanuki, through him), she really is happy.
"I will," Doumeki promises, squeezing her shoulder, gently, being careful of the scars on her neck.
She waves until she can't see him anymore.
"You should visit your friends sometime," her fiance suggests. He is always trying to make sure she's content with him. It's very sweet.
"Maybe I will," she says, taking his arm and smiling up at him as they turn to go back inside. "Maybe for his birthday."
Her fiance nods, indulgent, and they spend the rest of the afternoon quietly talking about Himawari's classes and the shrine.
Later that night, she shows him her scars for the first time.