Sep 12 2008
Luck Charm
Title: Luck Charm
Author: dorrie6
Fandom: xxxHolic
Pairing: Doumeki/Watanuki
Rating: G
Disclaimer: The characters and universe in this story belong to CLAMP.
Summary: Doumeki gives Watanuki an unusual gift.
Notes: I was having difficulty starting this, so I asked my friends list for prompts. glossing gave me “french fries and math homework.” I didn’t manage the french fries, but the homework did the trick. Happy Birthday, Watanuki!
*****
Luck Charm
“Aren’t you done with that yet?” Doumeki appeared over Watanuki’s shoulder, frowning.
“NO. Some of us aren’t math geniuses,” Watanuki retorted, pushing at Doumeki, though not with much force. “You’re blocking my light.” He sighed. “I don’t know why you’re even hanging around. You don’t need to guard me while I do my homework, you know.”
Doumeki sat down across from him. “How do you have homework already?” he said. “The new term hasn’t started.”
“I’m still making up for last term. I don’t want to be held back.” Watanuki leaned his head on his hand, glaring at the book in front of him.
“Why does Watanuki stay in school?” Mokona asked brightly, plopping himself smack in the middle of Watanuki’s book. “Watanuki misses so many days!”
Watanuki brushed him away, scowling. He didn’t respond.
“He wants something normal,” Doumeki said.
“Ah, Doumeki knows,” Yukko slurred, gazing sleepily over from the chaise longue where she was sprawled, surrounded by empty bottles of sake and Maru and Moro who dozed at her feet.
Watanuki glared in Doumeki’s direction. “Shouldn’t you be going home?” he snapped. “It’s getting late.”
“Just a few more minutes,” Doumeki said.
Watanuki sighed again, moving his hand to shield his eyes from the sight of everyone around him, and attacked his next math problem with a kind of stabbing motion, leaving a hole in the paper with his pencil. The chime from Yuuko’s highly suspicious antique lantern clock (suspicious in that it seemed to chime only when it felt something was important), gave Watanuki the unwelcome news that it was midnight.
“I’m never going to finish these!” he wailed, gripping the pencil tightly.
A small package appeared in front of him.
“What’s this?” Watanuki looked up, eyes wide.
Doumeki nodded toward the package. “Happy Birthday.”
“Birthday–” Watanuki blinked. “I forgot.”
Doumeki pushed the package a little closer.
Watanuki picked it up and peeled the paper off of it, revealing a small red pouch with white and gold embroidery.
“An omamori? From your temple?” Watanuki studied the intricate design on the pouch. “It protects me from evil spirits, right?”
“No.” Doumeki stood up and walked to the doors that led to the front hall. “Goodnight,” he said, letting himself out.
Watanuki stared after him. “What did he leave so quickly for?”
Yuuko raised her eyebrows. “You wanted him to stay, Watanuki?”
“NO! Of course not!” Watanuki protested. “But he could have bothered to explain himself!” He frowned at the pouch. “It’s probably just a stupid charm to help me with my studies, which I wouldn’t NEED if he wasn’t here distracting me all night!”
Yuuko beckoned him to her, and took the pouch. She turned it over in her hand. “Watanuki,” she said, her lips curling into a sly smile. “It’s an enmusubi.”
“WHAT?” Watanuki’s face turned pale.
“It’s a love charm!” Yuuko squealed.
“Love charm, love charm,” Maru and Moro cooed in a dreamy sing-song, still curled up at Yuuko’s feet.
“WHAT?” Watanuki repeated, jumping to his feet, his face having quickly progressed from sheet-white to beet-red. “It must be a mistake,” he said, wavering on his feet. “He just picked up the wrong one, and was too embarrassed to admit it. YES, THAT’S IT.”
Yuuko’s smile was as wide as it could be, as she got up off her seat and moved toward Watanuki. “They don’t have these at Doumeki’s temple,” she said, gleefully. “He made this himself!” She pinched Watanuki’s cheek.
“Doumeki wishes Watanuki good luck in love!” Mokona chirped.
“But why would he–” Watanuki sputtered. “Just because he has all the luck–” He fell to the ground, arms flailing wildly. “What an annoying guy!” He jumped up again. “I’M GOING TO BED,” he announced, stomping from the room.
“This calls for more sake!” Yuuko declared. “Watanuki is so cruel! We have to get it ourselves!”
“Mokona will get it!” Mokona said, bouncing to the kitchen.
****
Hours later, the shop quiet and sleepy once more, Yuuko crept through the hallway, to the room she’d so long ago prepared to be Watanuki’s, and softly slid the door open. Watanuki slept, curled like a cat on the futon, the red enmusubi clutched in his hand.
“Happy Birthday, Watanuki Kimihiro,” Yuuko said, smiling. “And many more.”