Prompt Challenge #004: Pocket Watch
Title: Pocket Watch
Artist/Author: silent_skies100
Rating: T
Pairing/Character(s): AU Saiga and Watanuki
Prompt Challenge # 004: Light & Warmth
Medium: Fanfic
Saiga sat in the middle of a long bridge connecting two metal structures, a freshly lit cigarette dangling from his fingers. He had the perfect view of the city before him, a seemingly never-ending expanse of rustic rooftops and copper pipes. Two of the three railway systems were visible to him from his angle; the one that cut directly into the heart of metal world lay parallel to the bridge, and the other could be seen looping outward in the distance, the main railway for anyone who could afford to escape the filth-ridden world they inhabited.
He took a long draught and tasted the full-bodied smoke that revealed just a hint of cherry flavor. It was getting darker outside. Saiga knew that he wouldn’t have to wait long before he would be visited again by his newfound apparition.
Perhaps he couldn’t say that it was truly newfound, Saiga thought to himself. He had been aware of it for several months, and at times, he was certain that it was taking to follow him, particularly when he would navigate the underworld of the city, a series of large and intricately placed tunnels. Whatever it was, Saiga thought, it didn’t seem to be malicious.
More than anything, it seemed to be curious - perhaps about the things that Saiga did, or maybe it was waiting for Saiga to make contact with it.
He had a long conversation with Kakei about it the night before, when he had returned from the labyrinth. He still hadn’t found any new information about the girl’s whereabouts. There was nothing to go on. He had searched through the darkness and found very few shadows to manipulate.
And that was when he had felt it, the thing that had been following him for months.
Was it a shadow? Saiga turned to look down the long tunnel, but could only see blackness. Was it a spirit? Saiga reached out to try and feel its energy. It was neither.
And yet, there it was. And more importantly, it knew Saiga was there.
He returned to the apothecary and was lovingly greeted by Kakei, who had chosen to wait up for him, as he did every night. They traveled upstairs to their bedroom and they casually talked about the event as they were getting ready for bed.
“Have you considered the possibility that it might be a dream?” Kakei asked as Saiga snuggled up to his chest. He was so warm. Kakei ran his fingers across Saiga’s back in thought. “It could be a dream that is trying to reach the physical world. And because you’re so sensitive to the thoughts of others and the energies that people leave behind, you’re able to sense the world of the in-between.”
“Dreams have their own world?” Saiga asked.
“In a way, they do. They sit between the waking realm and the sleeping realm, which is why we call it the world of the in-between. It’s accessible, but precious few can do so. It’s an ancient skill, entering the world of dreams. But once you can, supposedly you can access all parts of the physical world.”
“Supposedly, you say,” Saiga commented, more to himself than anything, before falling into a deep, deep slumber.
The next day, Saiga took to helping the boys around the apothecary while Kakei managed their tasks, but his mind never left the idea of dreaming.
Which was why he was sitting on the bridge, right as night was falling, to see if the apparition would come again.
Tiny lights were blinking in the city below him, like a cluster of bronze-colored stars. The moon was hanging low against the darkening sky, the last rays of sunset leaving the earth.
Saiga hoped that tonight would be profitable. He didn’t have to wait long.
“…Mr. Saiga?”
Saiga knew that voice. He moved his head in the direction of the sound, but only saw darkness.
“What are you doing here so late at night?”
He heard the figure approach him, albeit a little cautiously.
“I could say the same for you, kid,” Saiga responded, throwing his finished cigarette off of the bridge. He didn’t have to see it to know that the new appearance was smiling at him.
“I came here to test something out. Perhaps you’d like to stay and see how it goes?”
“Sure thing, unless it comes with a price,” Saiga said with just a hint of an edge to his voice.
“There’s no price,” the figure said as it walked the rest of the way across the bridge to where Saiga sat. “Your company will be more than suitable.”
The figure sat down beside him and, using the growing light of the moon, Saiga could make out a pale face and a pair of bright blue eyes hidden behind spectacles.
“Here goes,” Watanuki said.
Saiga heard a faint clicking sound, and a small ball of light appeared before his eyes.
It was nothing he had ever seen before in his life.
The light was soft and perfectly round, and it seemed to float on top of the series of gears and wires that sat in Watanuki’s hands. It quivered slightly when Watanuki lifted the device up to his eyes.
“How did you make that light?” Saiga asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“It comes from this pocket watch,” Watanuki said, “and I’ve engraved it with Lady Yuuko’s magic circle.”
Lady Yuuko, Saiga thought to himself. She was tightly woven in Watanuki’s life; there was no doubt about that. She was also someone that Saiga didn’t care to ever let enter into his life. The woman entwined herself with her notion of hitsuzen, and she regularly made steep deals with her clients that, in many cases, left them far worse off than they ever had been.
It was one of the few reasons why Saiga never actively sought out Watanuki - even though they had very similar professions and could stand to benefit from each other’s company.
“Why did you make it?” Saiga asked, his thoughts drifting from him.
“It’s supposed to rid an area of any spiritual activity,” Watanuki said casually.
Saiga froze.
“It gets rid of spirits?” Saiga asked.
“That’s the intended purpose,” Watanuki said, his brow furrowing.
“Wha- no! Turn it off! Turn it off!” Saiga shouted, gesturing toward the pocket watch. Watanuki stared at him in bewilderment before snapping the device closed, shrouding them once again in darkness.
“Why did you want me to turn it off?” Watanuki asked.
“Because I don’t want to get rid of any spirits,” Saiga said before sighing heavily. “That was the whole point of tonight.”
“Oh,” Watanuki said. “I apologize,” he continued, sheepishly.
Saiga sighed deeply.
“How long is that thing supposed to last for?”
“Um… a few hours, maybe more.”
Saiga put his face in his hands.
“Perfect.”
The two sat in awkward silence for a bit, watching the moon which had risen quite a bit in the time that they had sat there. Saiga unconsciously pulled out a cigarette and lit it using a match. He took a slow, deep draught before standing from his spot.
“Are you leaving?” Watanuki asked, looking up at the tall, burly man.
“Sorry kid, but I need to go find a place that doesn’t reek of spirit-repellant,” Saiga said, a grin forming on his face. “That’s one hell of a tool.”
Watanuki looked like he wanted to say something, but he stopped himself and instead chose to smile - though it seemed a little sad to Saiga.
“I’ll see you around, kid,” Saiga said before turning to walk down the long bridge. As he made the familiar trip down to the underground pipes and tunnels, only one thought seemed to permeate against a sea of jumbled notions.
He had to find out what that apparition was - and he couldn't get involved with Watanuki.
~*~
Saiga really hogged the stage in this chapter. :) Unfortunately, this is one of the few times he'll ever get to do so, because Watanuki and Doumeki are the stars of this world.
This is a snippet from a much longer story that will be a part of the xXxHolic Mega Challenge. If the stars work in my favor, the first four chapters should be available by the end of next week (and perhaps an art piece, too). ^_^