"sacrifice: backtrack", xxxHOLiC, Doumeki/Watanuki
For some odd reason, stuff I write, discard, then pick up again at a later date always seems to sound better than when I just wrote them. Hmmn.

Slight Doumeki/Watanuki, a kind of prequel and sequel to sacrifice.

sacrifice: backtrack


On the very first occasion he met Yuuko, he had the impression that they did meet before, and she wasn't as friendly or harmless as she had appeared to the general masses. Eccentric, yes. Extremely, in fact, but those who walked the path between light and dark were often balancing just on the edge of the world like ballerinas on tiptoes. It was unavoidable, that they eventually began to lose touch with what many had presumed to be the 'normal' world.

"You must be Doumeki-kun," Yuuko had given him a knowing smile during that meeting, one which spoke of secrets she wasn't about to tell in a hurry.

It was then that he felt a flash of something; a distant memory of the same elegant hand touching his hair in a room lit with soft yellow candlelight, the kind and timeless smile of his grandfather's, and the distinctive smell of wisteria flowers blooming heavily in late spring.

His early memories of his grandfather were vague but sharp in intensity. In fact, his grandfather had always been a person who focused on his meditation and magical practices, an extremely learned man who excelled at his art and was highly respected in the society. He wouldn't be surprised if Yuuko and his grandfather had met before-- Yuuko was referred to as the dimension witch after all, and his grandfather had always been a cheerful old man most willing to go the last mile for any person in need.

It was a pity that his grandfather passed away while he was still rather young, but he knew that it wasn't a kind of permanent goodbye. Maybe his learning was still patchy, and he would never see spirits the way his grandfather did, but as long as what he knew and what he possessed could become useful in protecting the people he loved, no power in this world was to be termed 'useless'.

"Listen carefully, Shizuka," the same graceful smile he remembered so fondly, from a person who taught him how to string and hold his bow, and how to let an arrow fly with nothing but the purest intent. "While your father inherited none of my powers, you on the other hand... you are meant for something greater than the future our Doumeki family could give you."

He couldn't understand then, what his grandfather was trying to tell him.

"In each practioner's life, they will meet someone whom they know they are destined to live with, destined to protect. That person will become the focus of their lives, the channel through which they purify and harness the abilities they have been gifted with."

"You are destined for greatness, Shizuka."

"One day, you will meet that special person, someone who needs you as much as you need him."

"No matter what happens, you must remember to be patient with him. Remember that he doesn't understand the world you live in, and he is a victim of the spiritual world, someone who needs your help. Only you can help him. No-one else in his life will be able to affect his destiny the way you can, therefore, you will become responsible for the kind of life he's going to lead."

"Yuuko-san will guide you when the need arises. Remember to be polite to her. You can learn a lot from her if you're patient, and I'm sure that you will turn out to be a fine spirit keeper. She who watches our worlds and fates isn't someone to be tempered with, for all her graciousness when it comes to offering help."

He remembered what his grandfather said, and the name Yuuko didn't occur him until much later, when he finally met the 'crazy woman' Watanuki claimed to be working for. How could someone he met so many years ago still look the same? He tried to dismiss his doubts, but his suspicions only deepened when he realised that Watanuki was the one who needed his help almost desperately, and Yuuko lived in a house which he wasn't allowed to visit.

The house exist only for certain purposes.

She had smiled so widely, like a self-satisfied cat.

My fate isn't entwined with yours, therefore, you will not be allowed to enter that place again.

Watanuki took that moment to interrupt them for the dinner he prepared that evening, and they sat down underneath trees heavy with wisteria flowers. He was unable to stop himself from admiring the sense of death-like calm the entire place held so lightly, like a magician balancing an egg on the tip of his finger.

Give him time to accept the truth.

But fate screwed up, as usual, and when he was on the verge of losing the only person important to him in this world, he defied the gods and entered a house he was never supposed to revisit.

"Once again, welcome to my humble home, Doumeki-kun." Yuuko had smiled at him, but it was both bitter and sad, all laced with the sweetest poison of regret. "Maybe, your existence is going to make all the difference we need now."

One who was pure of heart and strong of mind, one who was destined to rescue a boy who couldn't be saved.

"Doumeki?!" Watanuki was almost hysterical upon seeing him, and pointed a finger at the open garden outside, spasming ever so slightly in anger and incredule. "What are you doing here?! Go home! This place-you'll be-HOW CAN YOU LET HIM INTO THE HOUSE YUUKO-SAN?"

Yuuko actually laughed.

"QUICK! GO!" Watanuki was making wide, impatient gestures at him to leave, like a frantic mother hen trying to chase her chicks back under shelter. "THEY WILL KNOW- THEY ALWAYS DO AND YOU NEVER KNOW IF THEY'RE TRYING TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY FUNNY WHEN IT COMES TO SUCH THINGS-"

"Quiet." He frowned at the other boy. "You're giving me a headache."

Watanuki actually fell silent for the next few moments, mouth opened in shock.

"You. YOU UNGRATEFUL BASTARD-"

Yuuko snickered, or at least, that was what he thought she did.

"Just for the entertainment value of that alone, I think I shall reconsider the price I offered you, Doumeki-kun."