After Acts

Title: After Acts
Act 299
Author: ani
Disclaimer: it's CLAMP's universe, I'm only playing in it. Oh, and I guess I better beg for Yukiru Sugisaki's forgiveness too.
Author's note: there's a few other 'borrowed' charas, mostly in name.

Dedication: A great big glomp to hoggege in the doumekiwatanuki lj for help with the spirit this time! You rock!

~x~x~

Act 299
Scene 1

"Everyone clear you desk; it's time for the History test." Mrs. Kusakabe announced, turning back to the class with the papers in hand.

Just as a black kitten walked in, making the girls jump. This wasn't your ordinary cat. Mrs. Kusakabe put the tests back on her desk as the kitten just sat at her feet, looking up at her. As she knelt to pick it up, Moro and Maru stood up, "Don't sensei!!!"

Scene 2

It was days like today that he was glad his professors knew about his home life... part anyway. His advisor, Professor Niwa, knew the whole story - has a mystical creature of his own, though no one knows what it is - and let him know which professors would be more understanding, more lenient. He thanked every god out there for Professor Niwa.

Early Chinese History had a take home essay test: which meant he could use his books, do research. Fortunately, Sociology was nothing but lectures and textbook studying. And he'd managed to talk Professor Fujii into a few more days for his Macbeth paper.

It still gave him the creeps when he thought about how much his life was like the play.

Just when he thought he could have a peaceful lunch, as peaceful as a drunk pork-bun could be, he sighed as he stepped off the elevator. "My life's never that good."

Dômeki was waiting at his door.

Growling as he realized the jerk was probably expecting free lunch all over again, he almost stomped to the door. Fumbling for the right key, he ground out. "What do you want now? I'm not making you lunch."

Dômeki's shrug made him jump. "I already ate. I just wanted to ask if the girls could spend Saturday night with me. I fixed up a room for them."

He started fidgeting as Dômeki slipped in first. "They spend every full weekend they get at Kishi and Hiruko's."

"The teahouse." Dômeki added.

"I always bring them home after school, they have to do their homework before we go. I usually have dinner with them there before I leave." He answered just as the phone rang.

"What about next Saturday?" Dômeki asked, ignoring it.

He couldn't. "I... I guess so," he sputtered, worried. That damn Mokona loved turning any call into a prank one, even when he answered the damn phone! Surprised to find it still in the base, he sighed inwardly as he tried to get some sign of concern into his voice.

"I'll be there as soon as I can Principal Terada," he finished, hanging up.

"Are the girls okay?" he jumped at that voice right behind him. Turning, he jumped again when he realized he saw the concern in Dômeki's face easier than he used to...

Wait! He was reading him all over again!!!

Huffing, he turned back to the door, "There was an incident in school and now they're in the principal's office," not even jumping as Mokona landed on his shoulder, he turned to it, "Well, let's go."

No surprise Dômeki followed.

Scene 3

He knew before they even got close. "Damn thing must have come after we dropped them off."

"What?"

Not even stopping as they got to the gate, he turned right toward the playground, "Come on."

They found a little black kitten sitting at the top of the slide. "It's just a cat," Dômeki stated.

He shook his head, "No it's not." Holding his hand up, palm out, he waved his arm across once. The kitten suddenly wavered, turning into this vicious mink-like creature with wings. "It's a memory ghoul. It feeds on memories. The longer you touch it, the more it takes. One brush and you forget where you were going, hold it for too long and you won't remember a thing. They shape-shift into something you'd want to pick up so they can eat more."

The ghoul suddenly arched, hissing as the pipe fox slithered up the end of the slide. Mokona suddenly bounced off his shoulder, heading up the steps. The ghoul started backing away from the slide, stopping as it realized it was trapped. Poising to jump, he suddenly felt a hand grab just above his elbow as he said, "Now."

Mokona suddenly vaulted up, mouth opening wider than it was as this great sucking twister started pulling everything around the ghoul in, dragging it back to him. He swallowed it all with one gulp. "It taste funny. Mokona doesn't feel too good," the creature commented as it landed in his hands.

He smiled at him, "We'll pick up some Arabashiri on the way home."

Just the trick, the pork-bun perked up immediately, "It's gotta be Masumi."

He only nodded as he picked up the pipe fox before heading inside.

"Why didn't it work on Mokona?" Dômeki's voice floated over his shoulder as he reached for the door.

"This one was made to seal powers, so even ones that work by touch don't affect him." He answered before turning to the pipe fox curled around his neck, "Come on."

Scene 4

He had to admit he was surprised.

He'd seen Watanuki very fatherly to the girls in and out of their apartment. But he'd never seen him show this much concern for anyone. He watched him as the principal filled them in on the situation. Apparently, the twins had caused scene after scene chasing a black kitten around the school, trying to scare everyone away from it. It was even more trouble that students and teachers were being found all over campus: their conditions ranging from forgetting their name to two in complete comas. Equal amounts of worry and frustration played across Watanuki's face. But a whole other emotion was in his eyes.

Exasperation.

Trying to figure out why, he hadn't even noticed that Watanuki simply brushed him off as a friend. Terada-sensei had left them to check on the victims, leaving them alone to talk with the girls. He'd never seen Watanuki the slightest bit upset with them. But the look on his face, in his eyes almost made him think Watanuki'd start ranting as soon as he shut the door.

So he braced himself.

The door clicking shut was almost as loud as the silence. He turned to find Moro and Maru sitting in some desks, heads hung in... shame? His confusion only grew as he turned to Watanuki.

He was standing in front of the desks, his exasperation not just in his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you two. We can't keep doing this."

All they did was nod.

"I've said over and over that you are not to do anything directly. You either tell it where I am or let the pipe fox handle it, you know that," he sighed, shaking his head as the spirit nodded in agreement.

"You know you can't handle a memory ghoul, Mokona's the only one who can touch it," Watanuki continued, turning to the pork-bun still in his hands. Even it seemed disappointed. "At least it didn't get you two. It's gonna take a while to fix this though."

"We know Daddy. We are sorry."

Standing tall, Watanuki heaved a sigh as he said authoritatively, "You know your punishment girls. No one's going anywhere this weekend."

He jumped, expecting some reaction from them. Maru and Moro only nodded.

"I'll be here to pick you up after your detention." Watanuki coolly stated as they stood, "Now back to class you two."

He was so stunned he could only follow Watanuki as he went to find the principal.

Scene 5

They were passing a park when he finally pulled himself together. "That's a little harsh."

"Stay out of it." Watanuki muttered over his shoulder.

"Why take away something they look forward to?" he continued, catching his elbow as he tried to stomp off.

Watanuki fumed. "It's their punishment."

"Punish them for trying to stop something that's hurting people?"

He did flinch at his murderous glare, "Okay, they can't stay with you then. How's that?"

"Hey-" he tried to start before Watanuki tore his arm away.

"They've been hurt worse than you had. This is the third school they've been in. Too many of these 'incidents' and the school thinks they're starting them." He growled through clenched teeth, "They know there are consequences. They've been living by my rules for two years now. I'm not gonna change them."

Watanuki got right in his face, coldly stating, "They may call you Papa but I am their FATHER!" he finished, pounding his chest before turning away.

He rushed after, catching his elbow again. "So we're back to that," he said, forcefully turning him, grabbing Watanuki's arms tight. "I thought we were starting to get past it, you were-"

"We weren't!" Watanuki cut in, trying to get away.

"So what's it gonna take?" he practically ordered, "What is it going to take for you to let me into your life? Yours, not the girls."

Watanuki froze briefly at the question before he was squirming again. "I... I don't... ....can't..." he barely heard his whispers before his foot was stomped on. "Why would I? You can't think being here for a few months would make up for disappearing for two years. You haven't done a thing!!" he almost yelled in his face.

He couldn't keep the sting out of his eyes as he shook him once, stopping the squirming. "So what am I?" he calmly demanded.

"What?!?"

"If you're their father, what am I?" he asked as Watanuki started pulling away again.

"You're a jerk!" he declared, only getting shook.

"What am I?" he stared into his eyes, his seriousness and sincerity so blatant.

Watanuki managed to slip out, stepping back a bit, "I... I don't know... a big brother... a-" he cut off at his flinch, "... a companion... I-I..."

He just stood there and watched as he timidly backed away more before rushing off.

His gaze fell. "Hnff... high school all over again..."