storypaint | Being Difficult (Yuuko, Watanuki gen)

Disclaimer: xxxHOLiC belongs to CLAMP. All fanfiction archived here is a derivative of canon material that is not my property. I do not profit from these writings. The opinions and actions expressed in these stories are not necessarily the views and beliefs of the original author or me.
Pairing or Characters Involved: Clow Reed/Yuuko Ichihara, hints of Watanuki Kimihiro/Doumeki Shizuka
Fandom: xxxHOLiC
Rating: G
Warning: none
Title: Being Difficult
Author: rhap_chan
Notes: Written for #03, difficulty at the beginning.

Excerpt: Watanuki said when he stormed into Yuuko's shop the next afternoon. He always seemed to bring his anger with him, like a favorite blanket, but Yuuko was, as always, immune.

"Oh, that Doumeki!" Watanuki said when he stormed into Yuuko's shop the next afternoon. He always seemed to bring his anger with him, like a favorite blanket, but Yuuko was, as always, immune. The I-Ching was in her lap and he took a moment away from being annoyed to be surprised that she was really keeping up with this. A 'path to enlightenment.' Watanuki snorted. He thought it would probably be difficult to enlighten her. After all, she barely seemed to notice his utter hatred for Doumeki and made them go places and do dangerous things together all of the time.

Yuuko nodded sagely and threw the book at him. He dodged.

"What was that for?" he raged.

"Fung shei or something like that," she said, wiggling her fingers. "It makes the room less full of anger."

"That doesn't seem logical--" Watanuki began, but she leaned her head back and clearly chose to ignore him.

"It's hot," she said after a moment. "Maru and Moro, please bring some ice."

"Too hot, too hot!" the shop help agreed and headed for the kitchen. She gestured listlessly at Watanuki and then opened one eye.

"You could make yourself useful, you know. Fan me."

Watanuki was going to rage about her accusation that he wasn't useful, but she was right. It was just too hot. He sank onto a stool and picked up one of her fans.

"The hexagram for today was Difficulty at the Beginning," she said after a long moment of enjoying his minstrations. Maru and Moro returned with the ice and a washcloth. She used them to cool herself further.

"Do you feel it is your duty to educate me?" Watanuki mumbled, but his words were unheeded.

"It made me think of you, Watanuki-kun," she said, grinning at him. "You and Doumeki have your difficulties, it seems."

"That stupid archer ordered lunch for tomorrow!" Watanuki said, getting back to the thread of his anger. "Like he gets to pick! Like I'm his personal cook or something!"

"Aren't you?" Yuuko said, giving him a knowing look. "You know, Clow and I used to go at it like that too."

"It's entirely different!" Watanuki said, flailing. "You and Clow-- Doumeki and I--"

"Can't stand him," Yuuko said, and laughed. Watanuki sat back down and returned to fanning. She told him another story.

"What do you want me to do?"

Clow tried not to look sheepish and failed. He wasn't sure how he always managed to send Yuuko into her rages, except for the fact that he was Clow and she was Yuuko and occasionally, only once in a while, he asked her to help him break taboo--

"I told you three years ago that I had the key to creating life. I've got it all planned out now. But I need your help."

Yuuko shut the door in his face.

"The difference is, if I shut the door in Doumeki's face, then horrible monsters try to eat me," Watanuki said, sulking.

"Did you ever consider that I was perhaps meaning it the other way?" Yuuko asked, sounding thoughtful.

"What? No, I--"

Watanuki paused, considered, and then said quietly, "He doesn't have to help me."

"Ah, but he does," Yuuko said, rising from her perch and poking him in the nose. She rubbed the washcloth on her back and said, "We're going to have a customer in a few minutes. We will need some of my better sake, I should think."

"A customer, or a drinking buddy?" Watanuki said suspiciously.

"We'll see how things go, won't we?" Yuuko said, grinning widely, and Watanuki groaned.

The next day Doumeki got his lunch, just as he requested, and Watanuki didn't say anything too mean until Doumeki made his order for tomorrow.

But then again, Watanuki was a difficulty at the beginning, middle, and end, and Doumeki understood.