After Acts

Act 297

They both just stood there.

One expecting an outburst.

One expecting an explanation.

When it didn't come, he just started walking away. Turning the corner, he saw Dômeki started following him again. He managed to ignore him all the way to the bus stop, even waiting for the bus to arrive. Dômeki just got on with him, sitting beside him as the bus started down the street. He pulled one of his papers out of his bag, hoping it would help.

" 'Daddy'?" Dômeki asked, trying to get him to talk.

He sighed, realizing he'd have to explain a few things at least. He wasn't gonna deprive his girls of any family they could get.

Still can't believe he thinks of them as 'his girls'...

Trying not to look at him, he answered. "Maru and Moro remember things a little differently than we do. They still remember all the magic and stuff, just it wasn't a shop. They know Yûko is their mother and I'm a long lost cousin. Since they never knew their father and I'd been there for so long, Yûko thought it'd be cute if they called me Daddy instead."

"Sounds like something she'd do," he interrupted.

"When people ask, they'll say that Mommy's gone, so he's Daddy now. I just fill in what the girls believe." He sighed as he turned to the window. Something outside made him push the stop button. "Come on, there's too much to explain here."

Standing, he caught the guilt flash across Dômeki's face before he nodded and followed. They walked back up the block and he turned into the third gate, surprising Dômeki that he didn't announce himself. It looked like an old-fashioned teahouse; the shoji doors slid open as a middle-aged woman walked out in a plain lavender kimono. "Just get the girls off to school, Kimihiro-kun? Hiruko isn't here dear, and don't you have classes this morning?"

Taken off-guard by her suddenly informal behavior, Dômeki could only stare as he walked right up to her, hugging her briefly. "Just a few papers to work on, Kishi-san. Besides a... situation's come up."

She smiled at him before turning to Dômeki, "So he's the one."

He only nodded before stepping back from her, "Could we have a private place to talk?" he asked, a little nervous.

She only smiled, "Go around back, I'll bring out some tea when I can."

He bowed before stepping off the porch, turning to the narrow gravel path running beside the house. Dômeki turned to find this Kishi woman smiling at him, ushering him to follow. He bowed quickly before heading around the house. He found his bag sitting on the edge of the porch, him standing by the small koi pond a few meters away. All he did was sit on the porch and wait.

"If it weren't for Kishi-san and Hiruko-san, I - we wouldn't have made it." He started, voice barely heard over the fountain, "I was still in shock, trying to understand what happened, what to do, when they showed up. They said they were hoping to say good-bye and offered to help me: both with my new 'job' and the girls. When they woke up, they immediately started calling me Daddy."

"So you asked why." He prompted.

He nodded, "And a lot more. Mokona said Yûko thought it'd be easier this way, claiming we're related." Smiling at the memories, he continued, "They instantly start calling Kishi and Hiruko Oba-chan and Oji-chan, even though they'd pass for their parents better than I do." He huffed as he turned to the house, his gaze falling on an upper window. "I thought that a lot... leaving them here... they're so happy here..."

His gaze fell as he kicked at the stones. Dômeki didn't miss the remorse in his words, his eyes. "What stopped you?"

He chuckled, smiling, "They did."

He quirked an eyebrow.

"Every time I felt that way, thought of leaving; they'd come into my room, one or both saying they'd had a nightmare and I'd end up between them in bed." He slowly started to the porch, leaning on the next pole, "After a while I realized they kept turning to me; when they got hurt, scared... begging me to play, asking for things... all the hugs and kisses... I realized I needed them, too."

"They were here almost five months before they all moved out, not too far away." Kishi suddenly spoke up from behind them, stepping out with a fully prepared tea tray. "Kimihiro-kun waited until they found an apartment close by that would be big enough."

He smiled as he turned to her, softly shaking his head as she offered to pour the tea, "I won't deprive my girls of any family they can get."

Kishi smiled as she stood, catching the surprise and anxiety on Dômeki's face before he bowed in thanks. "You know where the kitchen is if you need anything else Kimihiro-kun," she answered, turning back inside, "I've got a lot of clients today, but you better not forget to say good-bye."

He smiled as the door slide shut. "Hai."

An uncomfortable silence fell over both after she left. He huffed before turning to the tray, pouring the tea. Not even offering, he just picked one of the cups before sitting down. "Kishi-san helped me set up our home; rules, a routine for the girls and Mokona to follow, though he hasn't followed any of it. Damn pork-bun only answers to threats... and their begging." He paused, taking a sip, "Hiruko-san helped get the apartment, getting the girls into school."

Dômeki finally turned, taking his cup. "They seem to like it."

He smiled proudly, "They'd been placed a grade higher than they should have - they said they were 7 - and have stayed in the top ten percent. I haven't heard a complaint from them or the school: they get along well with everyone, have even made friends; but no one's surprised they're always together. I think they've done something."

He turned, concerned, "What do you mean?"

Absently taking a moon cake, he smirked, "Two years in school and they have had every class together. I should be upset, tell them it's wrong, but I ... it's not hurting anyone... if it makes them happy." He sighed, "I'm too soft sometimes."

The pride, the concern, and the love: he saw it all on his face, heard it in his voice and he couldn't help feeling... satisfied. He had what he'd been missing, what he wanted: a family. If only...

Porcelain clinking together snapped him out of his thoughts, turning to find him pouring another cup for both of them. "Hiruko-san helped - still helps me with the spirits." He stopped, standing and going back to the koi pond.

Another silence fell over them, more awkward than uncomfortable, not knowing how to fill it. His gaze fell to his hands, the cup as he started, "I ran away. It's that simple."

"Simple?!? You faced countless spirits and demons that wanted to kill us, a lot you couldn't even see, even that psychotic maniac and you suddenly disappear when it's finally over." He snapped, turning to him, staring. "If all that crap didn't scare you away, what did?"

Dômeki flinched at the anger in his eyes, but found he couldn't hold back, turn away. "I wanted to tell you after... I finally accepted why I kept doing all of it: the insults, the requests, the rescues. I put up with all your rants and raves for a reason."

He stood, hesitantly walking towards him. "I finally saw that I'd fallen in love with you."

"But you left." Stopped him as he turned his back to him.

He sighed. Suddenly unable to look at him, he turned away, hands diving into his pockets. "I was ready to tell you... scared of your reaction... what would change between us." Raising his head, he stared at the cherry tree behind him. "I couldn't add to your problems. You suddenly had so much to deal with; I didn't want to give you more. I convinced myself it was better that way. I decided I had to leave; I couldn't stay. I knew I would if I did."

He turned around, and finding Dômeki so close he stepped back, walking around him and back to the porch. Setting down his teacup, he forced his other question out. "So why come back? Why now?"

He'd slumped as he walked past, staying where he was, he answered. "I couldn't forget. I tried to, but the past wouldn't let me. I didn't want you to die, leave me, but... I'd left you. The pain and guilt just wouldn't go away. I was - am a selfish bastard and I'm sorry. I should have been here to help you at least."

He slouched down on the porch, mumbling, "At least you knew."

Dômeki tried to hold on to that tiny bit of hope.

"I... I never..." he slowly shook his head. "I'm surprised to say this, but I miss Yûko. Sure, she's peeked in a few times with the Mokonas, but I still miss all the cryptic explanations, the odd jobs... even cleaning that endless dust magnet of a house. I realized I... I missed you too."

The past tense wasn't lost.

"Yeah, I missed the exorcizing, the spirit-warding. I didn't miss the crazy requests. But... I missed having someone I could talk to, supernatural or not. I missed knowing I had someone watching my back; hell I even missed just having someone to share lunch with. It took two months before I stopped making enough for you too." He paused as he heard the gravel crunch. "I even missed those smarmy remarks, that stupid smirk. I realized I did love you."

He only took one step.

Taking off his glasses, he slowly placed them on the tea tray. "Confused the hell out of me when you left, and I still don't understand completely. You really hurt me doing that you asshole! I'd thought we were friends at least, but you just tossed me aside like trash!" He snapped up, arms flailing, "I wish you knew what the hell you put us through! Try feeling just as confused and hurt AND worrying about getting them ready for the placement tests, finding a place, transforming the fox spirit, AND keeping that damn pork-bun out of the sake! While you were running away from your life, I've had to be a student, mother, father and Steward of the Spirit Realm. Don't try telling me it was hard, you were scared. I was terrified every day for months."

Sitting again, he hung his head, hiding behind his bangs. "Realizing the girls and I need each other, I focused on them, us. You left us. It's that simple."

His own words being thrown at him made him flinch. "Okay. Then why are you telling me this?"

"Papa"

"Papa..." he stepped closer as it dawned on him.

"Guess I was the idiot that didn't see it."

He nodded, "Yûko realized it before we did."

He chuckled as he leaned forward, one hand on his cheek, leaning on that elbow. "Like I already said," he swallowed, "I won't deprive them of any family they-they c-can-"

His hand slid from his cheek, covering his mouth. Leaning forward on both elbows, he tried to hide the occasional jerks in his shoulders. If his voice didn't give it away, his body sure was. All Dômeki could do was join him. He stood there, waiting for a reaction. Kneeling in front of him, he leaned closer, trying to get his attention.

Suddenly slamming into the gravel, his left cheek throbbing, his eye felt like it had fallen out. Slowly turning, he found him turning back from the swing, his right hand still clenched. He was instantly standing at his feet, voice strangely calm with the torment, the tears on his face. "You really hurt me and you've lost any trust I may have had in you. If it weren't for your surprise visit, I'd just tell you off, to leave us alone. But I swear to all the gods, if you do ANYTHING to hurt my girls, you'll pay big time mister."

He sat up, cringing as he touched his cheek. "And us..." he had to know.

He turned back to the porch, slipping his glasses back on, pulling the tea tray together.

He got to his feet. "What about us?"

He picked up his bag, slinging it on before picking up the tray. He started inside.

The twinge of fear in his voice stopped him just inside the door. "Watanuki-kun..."

"I... I don't know." He went to find Kishi-san.

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AN: don't know what in the hells CLAMP's planning future-wise for these two... but Watanuki's title is wholly made up by ME. Though I do find it funny, the definitions of 'steward' do fit him well. And 'custodian' seems to fit Dômeki... wonder if CLAMP did this on purpose...