When time stood still for love (1/6)
Title: When time stood still for love [DEJA VIEW]
Pairing: Watanuki/Doumeki
Rating: PG
Author’s note: AU-ish because of an established relationship. Set during Watanuki’s ownership of the shop. Oh man. I have no words for how pissed I still am with what Clamp has done with this series. Seriously, when I read the last chapter, all I could think of was: FFFFFUUUUUUUUU!!!! So here I am, channelling that rage into a fic based on different tracks from the xxxHolic soundtrack by S.E.N.S. Project.
Thanks for reading and enjoy! ^_^
“Doumeki? Based simply on the feeling I get from his name, I think he’s more compatible with you.” Yuuko said with a small smile.
Watanuki felt his ears redden at that. What the hell? She didn’t even know just how annoying Doumeki was and yet she was saying they were more compatible? He threw his arms in the air and exclaimed, “Don’t joke around! He’s an outrageous person!”
He began to list all of Doumeki’s faults but Yuuko was clearly not listening as a customer had entered the shop, leaving Watanuki to sulk over such an unlikely prediction.
The moment Watanuki heard the muffled shuffle of feet, he knew that the rest of the day would be spoiled. Of all days too! He had plans with Doumeki that night and it was just too bad if something should ruin it. He took a long drag from the pipe and exhaled the smoke slowly. Well, there was nothing for it. If a customer was coming, it was inevitable. There was no point in whining.
Still...
Years had passed since Watanuki inherited the shop and no one could deny that his powers had grown by leaps and bound since then. Now, he could sense the nature of a customer’s wish. Mind, it didn’t mean he knew exactly what they wished for but he could tell somewhat as the customer crossed the barrier.
A week before he had sensed that the old woman’s wish had something to do with family. True enough, her husband was suffering from a mental disorder and all she wanted was that he would never forget her and their family. Two days ago, it was a desperate young man who had lost something. It turned out that he was going by a false name because he had lost his true name in a gamble with a spirit.
Today...
Watanuki laid down the pipe and straightened his robes. Today, the customer’s wish had something to do with the heart. And why not? It was Valentines. There was bound to be someone wishing for love or something along that line. That annoyed Watanuki just a little. Sure, he could grant wishes but he had limits as well. The first was that he would never grant a wish that would require such a heavy payment as a life. The second was that he would never do anything that would involve altering a person completely.
As most wishes that had to do with love went, they were bound to fall under the second limitation.
The screen doors slid open and Maru and Moro led a young woman inside. Taking the young woman’s hands, Maru and Moro gently pulled her to Watanuki. She was of average height with a slim body. Pale skin stood out against dark brown curls that bounced with every step. The closer she got, the more Watanuki couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable.
Her desire for her wish to be granted was so strong that it brought back memories of a similar situation years before. A woman had wanted to be Doumeki’s girlfriend so badly that her body and soul had separated. He felt a prickle at the back of his neck as he remembered that event.
“Master,” Maru and Moro said in unison, “A customer for you.”
Watanuki smiled and thanked them. Maru and Moro giggled and leapt towards him. He ruffled their hair as they settled beside him on the couch. The young woman remained silent, with her hands behind her back.
“Good afternoon.” Watanuki said, “You have a wish, don’t you? Something that has to do with love?”
At those words, it was as if a lock had been opened. The young woman’s eyes widened as she gasped. “How did you know that?”
He tilted his head to one side, “Your coming here means that you have a wish you want granted and because it’s Valentines, I guessed that it had something to do with love.”
She nodded, “Yes, that is true. There is a junior professor in my university and I’ve admired him for several months now...” She took a few steps forward and Watanuki clearly saw on her face her admiration for this professor.
“It’s just that...” She continued, “He seems so aloof. I just...When I see him, I wish he would only see me too.”
His eyebrow shot up at the word aloof and against his better judgment, Watanuki asked who this professor was.
“Doumeki Shizuka.” The woman answered.
Instantly, Watanuki felt his stomach plummeting. Oh no, not again! He wanted to smack his head against the wall. Why, for the love of heaven, did women keep falling head over heels for Doumeki? Why did Doumeki’s pheromones insist on giving him trouble?
He struggled to maintain a straight face. He’d have to tell her that there were several reasons he couldn’t grant her wish. There was that self-imposed limitation among other things.
“Can you grant my wish?” The woman whispered.
Watanuki gave the woman that meaningful smile he had practiced everyday as a way of avoiding the question. Instead, he said, “When he notices you, will you be happy then?”
The woman bit her lip as she thought for a few seconds. Finally, she said, “No. I want him to love me as much as I love him.”
Which isn’t very much, Watanuki thought. Yours is just a passing fancy which you’ve mistaken for love.
“I want him to be mine, my own.” The woman said suddenly.
“Ah” Watanuki said as he stood up, “Then we have a problem there, don’t we? One can never own another person. I’m sorry but I cannot grant your wish.”
She frowned, “But I thought that this shop could grant any wish!”
“It can.” Watanuki replied, “But the price for your wish-”
“I’ll pay anything!” The woman all but shouted, “I’ll do anything even if-”
She stopped herself at the same time Watanuki’s eyes flew to the doors that were being opened by none other than the subject of the wish. Doumeki’s gaze flitted from the young woman to Watanuki then back to the woman.
“Oh.” He murmured, “You have a customer. I’m sorry to have barged in. Excuse me.”
“Doumeki-sensei!” The woman exclaimed, her hand flying to her chest.
Doumeki turned to her, “Do I know you, miss?”
Before Watanuki could do anything, she ran to Doumeki and took his hand in hers. “I am Ezawa Miyuki. I’m a grad student at the university you teach in. Please, please say you’ll have me. I promise I will make you happy. I’ll do anything for you. I’ll be anything for you. I love you!”
Despite the almost bland expression, Watanuki knew that Doumeki was just as bewildered as he was by what was going on. The young woman kept rambling on about her love for him and what she was willing to do. It almost made Watanuki feel just sorry for her. Poor girl. She’d have to understand that she and Doumeki were not meant to be.
Watanuki made his way to them but stopped when he saw Doumeki looking at him with a strange expression on his face. It was like Doumeki was telling him to stay out of it because this one was something that Doumeki would handle himself. Watanuki opened his mouth to protest but Doumeki gave him a stern look and shook his head.
At last, the woman stopped babbling. She clasped Doumeki’s hand tighter. “Doumeki-san?”
Doumeki looked down, slowly removing his hand from her grasp. “I’m sorry.” He said, “I cannot give you what you wish for.”
It took a few moments for the words to sink in but when it did, the woman inhaled sharply and backed away from him, “Why? You don’t have a wife or a girlfriend!”
“That is true.” Doumeki said and the glance he gave Watanuki sent shivers down Watanuki’s spine.
“Then how is it impossible? Is there someone else you long for? I’m here for you! Forget that person!” She exclaimed almost madly and Watanuki did feel sorry for her then.
Doumeki shook his head, “I am sorry. I don’t wish for you to be unhappy but what you ask for is impossible.”
The woman raised her hands to her face as tears trickled down her cheek. Then, with a stifled cry, she ran out of the room and out of the shop. Watanuki made to go after her but Doumeki held him back.
“Let her go, Watanuki.” He whispered as he pulled Watanuki into his embrace. “Nothing we say now can comfort her.”
“Still...” Watanuki replied, leaning into Doumeki’s warm body. “It feels wrong to just leave her like that.”
Doumeki ran his hand up and down Watanuki’s back as if to comfort him. “Anymore words will only hurt her more.”
Watanuki wrapped his arms around Doumeki and held tightly to his shirt. He had been right. The rest of the day had been ruined. It seemed wrong to do any kind of celebration now after what had just happened. When he told Doumeki this, the taller man ran his thumb across his cheekbone before kissing him.
“Just stay with me.” Doumeki said and Watanuki caught the barest tremble in his voice.
Now it was his turn to comfort Doumeki. Watanuki laid his head on Doumeki’s chest and whispered, “Idiot. Who said I’d ever leave you?”
Part Two
Pairing: Watanuki/Doumeki
Rating: PG
Author’s note: AU-ish because of an established relationship. Set during Watanuki’s ownership of the shop. Oh man. I have no words for how pissed I still am with what Clamp has done with this series. Seriously, when I read the last chapter, all I could think of was: FFFFFUUUUUUUUU!!!! So here I am, channelling that rage into a fic based on different tracks from the xxxHolic soundtrack by S.E.N.S. Project.
Thanks for reading and enjoy! ^_^
“Doumeki? Based simply on the feeling I get from his name, I think he’s more compatible with you.” Yuuko said with a small smile.
Watanuki felt his ears redden at that. What the hell? She didn’t even know just how annoying Doumeki was and yet she was saying they were more compatible? He threw his arms in the air and exclaimed, “Don’t joke around! He’s an outrageous person!”
He began to list all of Doumeki’s faults but Yuuko was clearly not listening as a customer had entered the shop, leaving Watanuki to sulk over such an unlikely prediction.
The moment Watanuki heard the muffled shuffle of feet, he knew that the rest of the day would be spoiled. Of all days too! He had plans with Doumeki that night and it was just too bad if something should ruin it. He took a long drag from the pipe and exhaled the smoke slowly. Well, there was nothing for it. If a customer was coming, it was inevitable. There was no point in whining.
Still...
Years had passed since Watanuki inherited the shop and no one could deny that his powers had grown by leaps and bound since then. Now, he could sense the nature of a customer’s wish. Mind, it didn’t mean he knew exactly what they wished for but he could tell somewhat as the customer crossed the barrier.
A week before he had sensed that the old woman’s wish had something to do with family. True enough, her husband was suffering from a mental disorder and all she wanted was that he would never forget her and their family. Two days ago, it was a desperate young man who had lost something. It turned out that he was going by a false name because he had lost his true name in a gamble with a spirit.
Today...
Watanuki laid down the pipe and straightened his robes. Today, the customer’s wish had something to do with the heart. And why not? It was Valentines. There was bound to be someone wishing for love or something along that line. That annoyed Watanuki just a little. Sure, he could grant wishes but he had limits as well. The first was that he would never grant a wish that would require such a heavy payment as a life. The second was that he would never do anything that would involve altering a person completely.
As most wishes that had to do with love went, they were bound to fall under the second limitation.
The screen doors slid open and Maru and Moro led a young woman inside. Taking the young woman’s hands, Maru and Moro gently pulled her to Watanuki. She was of average height with a slim body. Pale skin stood out against dark brown curls that bounced with every step. The closer she got, the more Watanuki couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable.
Her desire for her wish to be granted was so strong that it brought back memories of a similar situation years before. A woman had wanted to be Doumeki’s girlfriend so badly that her body and soul had separated. He felt a prickle at the back of his neck as he remembered that event.
“Master,” Maru and Moro said in unison, “A customer for you.”
Watanuki smiled and thanked them. Maru and Moro giggled and leapt towards him. He ruffled their hair as they settled beside him on the couch. The young woman remained silent, with her hands behind her back.
“Good afternoon.” Watanuki said, “You have a wish, don’t you? Something that has to do with love?”
At those words, it was as if a lock had been opened. The young woman’s eyes widened as she gasped. “How did you know that?”
He tilted his head to one side, “Your coming here means that you have a wish you want granted and because it’s Valentines, I guessed that it had something to do with love.”
She nodded, “Yes, that is true. There is a junior professor in my university and I’ve admired him for several months now...” She took a few steps forward and Watanuki clearly saw on her face her admiration for this professor.
“It’s just that...” She continued, “He seems so aloof. I just...When I see him, I wish he would only see me too.”
His eyebrow shot up at the word aloof and against his better judgment, Watanuki asked who this professor was.
“Doumeki Shizuka.” The woman answered.
Instantly, Watanuki felt his stomach plummeting. Oh no, not again! He wanted to smack his head against the wall. Why, for the love of heaven, did women keep falling head over heels for Doumeki? Why did Doumeki’s pheromones insist on giving him trouble?
He struggled to maintain a straight face. He’d have to tell her that there were several reasons he couldn’t grant her wish. There was that self-imposed limitation among other things.
“Can you grant my wish?” The woman whispered.
Watanuki gave the woman that meaningful smile he had practiced everyday as a way of avoiding the question. Instead, he said, “When he notices you, will you be happy then?”
The woman bit her lip as she thought for a few seconds. Finally, she said, “No. I want him to love me as much as I love him.”
Which isn’t very much, Watanuki thought. Yours is just a passing fancy which you’ve mistaken for love.
“I want him to be mine, my own.” The woman said suddenly.
“Ah” Watanuki said as he stood up, “Then we have a problem there, don’t we? One can never own another person. I’m sorry but I cannot grant your wish.”
She frowned, “But I thought that this shop could grant any wish!”
“It can.” Watanuki replied, “But the price for your wish-”
“I’ll pay anything!” The woman all but shouted, “I’ll do anything even if-”
She stopped herself at the same time Watanuki’s eyes flew to the doors that were being opened by none other than the subject of the wish. Doumeki’s gaze flitted from the young woman to Watanuki then back to the woman.
“Oh.” He murmured, “You have a customer. I’m sorry to have barged in. Excuse me.”
“Doumeki-sensei!” The woman exclaimed, her hand flying to her chest.
Doumeki turned to her, “Do I know you, miss?”
Before Watanuki could do anything, she ran to Doumeki and took his hand in hers. “I am Ezawa Miyuki. I’m a grad student at the university you teach in. Please, please say you’ll have me. I promise I will make you happy. I’ll do anything for you. I’ll be anything for you. I love you!”
Despite the almost bland expression, Watanuki knew that Doumeki was just as bewildered as he was by what was going on. The young woman kept rambling on about her love for him and what she was willing to do. It almost made Watanuki feel just sorry for her. Poor girl. She’d have to understand that she and Doumeki were not meant to be.
Watanuki made his way to them but stopped when he saw Doumeki looking at him with a strange expression on his face. It was like Doumeki was telling him to stay out of it because this one was something that Doumeki would handle himself. Watanuki opened his mouth to protest but Doumeki gave him a stern look and shook his head.
At last, the woman stopped babbling. She clasped Doumeki’s hand tighter. “Doumeki-san?”
Doumeki looked down, slowly removing his hand from her grasp. “I’m sorry.” He said, “I cannot give you what you wish for.”
It took a few moments for the words to sink in but when it did, the woman inhaled sharply and backed away from him, “Why? You don’t have a wife or a girlfriend!”
“That is true.” Doumeki said and the glance he gave Watanuki sent shivers down Watanuki’s spine.
“Then how is it impossible? Is there someone else you long for? I’m here for you! Forget that person!” She exclaimed almost madly and Watanuki did feel sorry for her then.
Doumeki shook his head, “I am sorry. I don’t wish for you to be unhappy but what you ask for is impossible.”
The woman raised her hands to her face as tears trickled down her cheek. Then, with a stifled cry, she ran out of the room and out of the shop. Watanuki made to go after her but Doumeki held him back.
“Let her go, Watanuki.” He whispered as he pulled Watanuki into his embrace. “Nothing we say now can comfort her.”
“Still...” Watanuki replied, leaning into Doumeki’s warm body. “It feels wrong to just leave her like that.”
Doumeki ran his hand up and down Watanuki’s back as if to comfort him. “Anymore words will only hurt her more.”
Watanuki wrapped his arms around Doumeki and held tightly to his shirt. He had been right. The rest of the day had been ruined. It seemed wrong to do any kind of celebration now after what had just happened. When he told Doumeki this, the taller man ran his thumb across his cheekbone before kissing him.
“Just stay with me.” Doumeki said and Watanuki caught the barest tremble in his voice.
Now it was his turn to comfort Doumeki. Watanuki laid his head on Doumeki’s chest and whispered, “Idiot. Who said I’d ever leave you?”
Part Two