After Acts

Title: Act 301
Author: seizansha
Disclaimer: it's CLAMP's universe, i'm only playing in it.
Warning: it might rot your teeth.

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Scene 1

It was high school all over again.

Not exactly, but sitting at the counter at Duklyon brought back a lot of memories. He'd almost confessed here... you'd have thought he'd caught on sooner... that the lunches were no different than the rescues. He just wanted to be a part of his life: helping him out or just eating together. Any reason at all.

That's why he'd accept being just a friend again.

Ever since that night, things were changing. Slow little changes, and he noticed every one. Watanuki wasn't surprised or angry anymore when he was around, just showed up. Even when the girls weren't there, Watanuki was becoming more comfortable with him around. He had even started staying for dinner when the girls came for their sleepovers.

But this morning surprised him. Watanuki had called twenty minutes before school, asking him to come over to take Maru and Moro to school for him. When he got there, the girls were putting their lunch together and he was gone. All they would tell him was 'Daddy had an emergency' as they got ready, pulling him along. It wasn't until they got to the gate, gave their good-bye kisses, that they gave him the note.

I need to ask you something. Could you meet me at the old Duklyon around noon? I might be late, hope you can wait.

It was the twelfth time he reread it since he'd gotten there. "I'll wait all night," he whispered as he slipped the note back in his pocket.

After an hour and a half, his stomach wouldn't let him wait any longer. So of course, once his food came Watanuki rushed through the door. He tried to keep it as a smirk as he turned to him, Watanuki somehow flopping onto the stool. "Sorry I'm late. I would have been here right on time, but Daikoku lost his hammer again," he sighed as he sat up, stealing some fries, "I swear, the next time it happens I'm gonna tape it to his head."

"Daikoku... one of the luck gods?" he hoped he didn't sound as surprised as he was.

Watanuki only nodded as he placed his order. "The most forgetful being I have ever met. You'd think you'd keep an eye on a wish-granting mallet..." he added before smirking at him. "What are you so surprised about, you've met gods before."

He was only smiled at as he tried to remember. "I hope I didn't mess up your schedule, making you wait an hour." Watanuki tried to apologize.

"No, nothing important." He answered off-handedly.

Just then the waitress brought Watanuki's food. The older lady winked at Watanuki before leaning towards him, covering her mouth but still talking loud enough for him to hear. "This young man of yours had been here since 11:30."

He couldn't take the confusion on Watanuki's face. "Wh-" Watanuki started, turning towards him as he set his cup back down.

"You didn't tell the girls what you wanted to talk about. You wanted to meet when they're in school, in public. So..." he muttered, half to himself before turning to find a slight blush on his face.

"I... I... I knew I was gonna be late. Probably have to leave soon too," he sighed. "It's my free day - no classes - so of course everyone comes looking for me... I was hoping, just wanting a little more time," he whispered.

He nodded, smiling softly, "So why did you need to keep it a secret from Maru and Moro?"

"I don't know if you know, but their birthday is on the thirty-first."

"Halloween?"

"It's Yuko." he almost laughed as Watanuki rolled his eyes, "Well, they don't have school that day and I... I planned a surprise outing for them. I'm sure they - we would like it if you came along."

He couldn't tell what surprised him more; the invitation itself or that he changed it to we. "I'd love to," he whispered, mesmerized.

Watanuki's face flushed. "Great," he started digging through his pockets, pulling out a half sheet of paper. "Here's all the details," he paused, absently biting his lip, "You may want to bring your swimsuit too."

He quirked an eye, "Why, it's too late for the beach."

Smiling, he answered, "Who said we're going to the beach? You don't need to, I'm just saying you can." A sigh escaped as he turned to the door with his burger in one hand and his drink in another. "Sorry, I've got to go. I'm just hoping I can be there to pick them up-"

"I could get them for you," he interrupted.

The soft smile completed his day. Starting to leave, he twisted back towards him. "Oh, and some money or something useful, worth trading. It'll be easier to stay together that way," Watanuki nodded once to the dog spirit waiting at the doors before turning back, "Remember, it's a secret."

Giving a discreet nod before the dog spirit pulled him away like an eager puppy, he found he was pulling the first note out of his pocket before he even opened the invitation. Not even reading it, he simply unfolded both flat on the counter, smiling.

Both halves of the same sheet.

Scene 2

The directions weren't very hard, just incredibly weird.

Take Bus 12 to its 7th stop, the one after the park. We'll meet you there at 9 a.m.

And so, here he was standing in front of a decrepit arcade. At least it looked worn down... something just didn't feel right.

"Papa!" broke his out of his thoughts. Bracing himself, he was immediately hugged around the waist from both sides, his vision nothing but black.

A simple grunt getting Mokona off his face, he turned to them, "Happy Birthday girls."

"Thank you Papa!" they beamed at him.

"Okay you three, you can let go now," hearing that voice that joyful always made him smile. Watanuki chuckled, "It's a good thing it's been such a mild fall." Confused, he quickly realized the girls were wearing denim capri's with Mokona t-shirts in the others colors: Maru's was pink with a white Mokona; Moro's was blue with their black one. Watanuki was wearing army green khaki's with a short sleeve button shirt that was a faded blue, like his eyes washed out. Figuring if it was all day he'd better keep it simple, he'd pulled on a faded pair of jeans and a long-sleeve white tee.

"Why'd we stop here Daddy?" Maru's question taking his confusion about their clothes...

With Moro quickly replacing it, "The park's a few blocks that way."

All four turning to Watanuki only made him puff up in pride, smiling, "But your surprise is right here," he thumbed at the building.

"A rundown old shack?" he asked, still confused.

"No, it's actually behind it," Watanuki replied, starting past him as the twins grabbed his hands, spinning him to follow.

That strange feeling started growing as they rounded the corner, heading for the alley. It seemed he was the only one who felt it: Mokona and Maru were trying to guess what it was, Moro was alternately asking Watanuki what it was, then asking him if he knew. It was when he turned back to them and winked at him that he really began to wonder.

Watanuki stopped them right beside the busted-in back door. "Well you two, this day is all for you," he said as they stood at his left. Aiming for the left side of the doorway, he suddenly clapped his hands together, rubbing them like he was trying to get flour off. A strange purple glow started coming from a no parking sign on the wall, growing bigger and bigger as he kept rubbing his hands together. Once it was as tall as the doorway Watanuki dropped his hands. The center suddenly cleared away, revealing a peaceful forest meadow with a multitude of different colored lights flitting around it.

The twins squealed and cheered as they realized what it was. "Really Daddy?"

"Really. It's all yours," he replied before they practically pounced on him, hugging fiercely.

Turning back to the portal, they laughed as one of those lights came up to it, a sudden soft cheer coming before it turned, heading back. Maru, Moro, and Mokona immediately followed. He quickly stepped up, reaching for one of the food bundles as Watanuki shook his head at them. He jumped, realizing he'd moved and grabbed for it too. "I carried you around enough times, I'm sure I can lift this," he smirked as Watanuki blushed at their hands touching.

Catching sight of his backpack, Watanuki smiled, "Took my advice, huh?"

"Yeah, but I didn't think you'd go so far," he replied as they stepped through, joining the others in the middle of the meadow, the portal closing behind them. "And I thought I went overboard with their presents."

"Yeah, well they deserve it." Watanuki smiled as he watched them darting around the meadow trying to catch the lights, an apologetic look on his face. "It's like I said before, there's no time off with this job. Sometimes, it feels like whenever we start spending time together something always comes up. They say they're okay with it; they love it on holidays cause its usually visits or invitations, but... both times, I've had to leave on their birthday."

He sighed as his gaze fell. "Maru and Moro know I had to, but I could see that it hurt them. So I decided this year was gonna be different," Watanuki turned back to them, "It's taken almost a year to make this place, Hiruko and I started getting the word out that I wasn't doing anything today five months ago."

A few lights started zipping around their heads, making Watanuki laugh. Holding his hand out in between them, a deep purple light landed on his hand. He jumped at the little touches as it moved across his hand. "What the...?" he started, slowly raising his hand closer to his face.

"Faeries," Watanuki laughed at what looked like a tiny violet being with butterfly wings. She bowed to him then turned and blew him a kiss. "I think she likes you." He smirked.

Turning to him, he chuckled. There were at least twelve dancing in a circle around Watanuki's head. He just playfully swatted at them, "Not me, them," he laughed, shooing them away.

Scene 3

After easily cheating on their game of tag - being the only one who knew the entire forest circled back to the meadow - he wadded across the shallow bit of the creek that crossed the 'north' end of the meadow. Laughing as the girls charged out from both sides and tackled Dômeki to the ground, he slowly headed to the small pool and waterfall to sit on one of the large sunning rocks he'd placed where the creek came from the pond. Leaving his feet in the water, he eased himself back, lying with his arms folded behind his head. The heat from both sides was starting to relax and lull him to sleep. He would have too, but...

"If you're gonna take a nap you should take your glasses off."

He didn't even open his eyes. The smirk was there; he knew it. "I don't take orders." He smiled, jumping a little as he felt his glasses gently removed. Peeking with his left eye, he watched as Dômeki sat to his left, staring out over the field. "The girls...?"

"They were talked into 'Follow the Leader'," Dômeki answered, smiling wistfully until he realized, "Where's the pork-bun?"

He chuckled at Dômeki using the nickname. "Half way through the alcohol of course. I didn't tell him that was all I packed," he huffed, "though Mokona's probably smuggled in more... or asked Yûko to send him some."

The black ball slowly floating over the bundles of food made both men jump. "Speak of the devil-woman."

Mokona hovered over to them, passing the girls and getting no reaction. Dômeki only turned to him in confusion. "Look again," he replied to the quirk, smiling as both turned to find an orange fae leading at least twenty - Moro was sixth and Maru eighteenth - across the meadow to them. Mokona stopped over the stream, the whole troupe on the opposite side as those eyes opened, the beam shooting out of the jewel to reflect off the water. "Happy Birthday Darlings!" Yûko cheered as the image cleared. Judging from the location she was obviously drunk. Sitting there with a shot glass and a bottle of something, it looked like she was in a biker bar straight out of the movies, if it weren't for the fact most of the patrons behind her looked like rabbits.

Dômeki was the only one who jumped.

It was like Yûko couldn't hold still. Her head was turning every way possible, twisting and wiggling as she hummed at the details. "You really have a knack for this Kimi-chan. This is amazing handiwork. The loops are flawless."

Blushing at the praise and nickname, he tried to brush it off. "You gave me great instructions."

"Yes, I did," she giggled before taking a swig straight out of the bottle. "I figured you'd only get it if I wrote it like a recipe." Everyone laughed as he mock-growled at her. "I miss the old explosions." She pouted.

"I wouldn't give you the pleasure." He snapped back.

A dismissive wave then she turned to the twins. "I got you two something extra special this year, sweeties," Yûko paused, her eyes darting to him, "I'm sure Daddy's made it so you two can't get in here yourselves. So Mommy's got you something to take one of your new friends home in." Out of the pork-bun's mouth came two crystal shards about the size of carrots. They glided over to them, "Maru, Moro, these crystals can be cozy little homes to any one of those cutey twinkle-bees. But remember, it's a big responsibility and," Yûko paused for another swig, "I'm sure Daddy'll make you do it all."

They nodded before turning to him, "We promise."

Yûko smiled motherly at them all before, "Cheerio Darlings!" and cut the connection.

Scene 4

He could only watch in wonder as they tried to decide.

Maru had sat down a few meters away, holding one after another to her ear as if they had to tell her something so she'd invite them.

Moro, on the other hand, had picked some of the dandelions and blew the seeds away. It seemed to be that whoever caught the most would be her pick.

It was starting to hurt to see the differences in them.

Scene 5

"It's perfectly safe. You think I wouldn't make sure it was?"

"Prove it."

"Gladly!" he stepped back, running towards him. "Cannonball!" he called out as he jumped off the cliff, the splashes covering the girls, making them laugh.

Dômeki coolly dived down to join the splash fight.

Scene 6

"Come on, we have to get going if we're gonna make it in time," he called out as he tied up the last of the bundles. He smiled at Dômeki when he saw he had Mokona by the ears. "Girls hurry up and choose-" he cut off as he turned.

They stood in front of him all packed and ready. A pale yellow light in pink hair and a green tint in the middle of a long blue pigtail showed they'd chosen. "Where now Daddy?" Moro asked, smiling broadly.

Maru was just as ecstatic, "Can we go to the market?"

He only winked at them as he tried to ignore the look Dômeki was slinging at him. "That's why we've got to hurry. The bus'll be there in ten minutes and we still have to get to the stop," he answered, dusting his hands again to open the portal. "Let's go," he quickly picked up the empty lunch before stepping through.

Blindly following, Dômeki easily kept pace as the girls trotted along between them, "Where's this 'market' at?"

He only smiled as the twins giggled. "It's in the spirit world Papa," the chorused as they turned into the park.

"It's more like a festival, but there's booths from everywhere selling anything you can imagine. I can't get anyone to tell me what it's a festival for, and since most come for the shopping and bartering everyone calls it the market." He answered as they went past the Penguin King, standing at the end of the swing set.

He felt the tiny flinch as he took Dômeki's hand, raising it and shaking the puffball, "Mokona, do something about this," he ordered, holding up the lunch things. He grumbled briefly before calmly sucking them in, not even swaying in his hands.

"You said something about the bus," Dômeki started, trying not to dwell on the fact he was still holding his hand.

"We've got about five minutes yet," he answered, smirking at his slight blush.

He surprised him when he pulled his hand away and put the pork-bun on his head, "It's my turn."

Dômeki walked past him to the twins slowly swinging, slipping his bag off his back. He smiled as his girls stopped and got off, standing in front of Dômeki as he knelt and opened his bag. Rummaging briefly, he pulled out two small presents simply wrapped in pink and blue polka-dotted paper. "Hope this makes up for not being here before," Dômeki said as he held them out to each.

Their slow nods mirrored his shock. Slowly taking their gift, they carefully unwrapped the small boxes. Realizing what kind of boxes they were, he slipped up behind them as they were opened. There in each box was a simple gold chain with a small iridescent gem hanging from it. "...Papa..." they whispered.

"Opal...?" he started, turning to find Dômeki studying their faces, soaking in every little detail. Pushing the curiosity and acceptance aside, he knelt between them. "It's the birthstone for those born in October. Opals bring luck and reveal inner beauty. They are also used to heal emotions..." he paused, "You didn't have to..."

Dômeki was watching him just as closely. He turned to the girls, "You deserve it," Dômeki told them, holding his hands out to Moro, "Would you like to put it on?"

He could only smile as she nodded, holding the box out as Dômeki picked up the necklace. Maru turned and held hers to him, "Daddy...?"

He only nodded as he helped her put it on. Both men smiled at each of them as Maru and Moro turned to each other, admiring their gift. "Thank you Papa," they chorused, bowing before hugging him fiercely.

"You're very welcome," Dômeki almost whispered.

He slowly stood, softly shaking his head, "You didn't have to get something so extravagant."

Dômeki stood, his fingers against the right side of his chin gently stopping him. "Mine's no different then yours. I did what I could to try to make up for what I didn't."

Before he could respond, Mokona bounced on his head, "The bus is here."

Everyone turned to the park gate, watching as the bus slowly pulled up. He turned to find Dômeki watching him as Mokona jumped to the girls. The soft glow to his left caught Dômeki's attention. "Another portal?"

He only nodded as he stepped closer, taking his hand again. "It only opens during the 4:30 and 10:15 stops," he answered as they turned to the triangle of the end poles, the whole space showing a boardwalk of tents, booths and games. They ended up laughing at the twins' cheers catching the attention of many spirits on the other side. "Moro, Maru, you know what's first," he added as the twins hopped through, calling out to some of the spirits before cheering, "The clothes tent!!!" as they ran off.

Dômeki only stared at him as he pulled him along by the hand. "You better stay close until we get through the tent ourselves," he said with a smirk.

Knowing why, he only turned to him, "So we switched..."

"Not really. It's just the market's kinda like the Hyakki Yako, you only stay if you have something from here, something made by the spirits. Mokona, the pipe fox, and I are the only ones who don't need to." He explained as he led him past the stalls, blushing slightly at the smiles they were getting. "But I had to leave him with Hiruko. He's just not good with animal spirits."

Dômeki barely smiled his thanks as the tent came in sight.

Scene 7

"No! We are not bringing home a spirit that's gonna get bigger than all four of us!!"

Scene 8

He hated to admit it, but it really surprised him. For someone who had wanted nothing to do with spirits at one time to be so friendly, so famous among so many spirits was astonishing.

Just because it was Watanuki, they were given things freely left and right. So, here they were, eating at a kitsune oden cart with many packages at their feet, the twins in new matching kimonos, Watanuki wearing a long navy blue Mandarin jacket he'd talked him into, and he was wearing a jade green kimono robe that Watanuki said brought out his eyes. Each booth, each stall offered one thing after another as gifts to each of them: Watanuki, Moro, Maru, and even Mokona accepted them graciously, talking casually with the countless spirits that approached. He kept offering the few talismans and charms he'd brought along; they were declined or accepted as gifts.

"Moko, Moko!" a little boy's voice called out over the crowds.

The pork-bun jumped, vaulting off the counter and tried to hide in Watanuki's jacket. But before he could even ask the girls twisted in their seats, yelling back, "Yoshiyuki!"

Watanuki laughed at the little orange blur that hit the bench between them. "Hello Yoshi." He said as the little raccoon-dog tried to climb up on the bench.

He found himself helping him up, "He's hiding in Watanuki's lap," he whispered, chuckling as that face lit up and he dove onto Watanuki.

Watanuki laughed at Yoshiyuki and the tickling. Mokona suddenly came out of nowhere and head butted him. Once again, he had the creature by the ears, growling right back as he held him in front of him. "Mokona!" one cheered, one threatened, as five laughed.

"Hideyuki, Makiko, how are you tonight?" Watanuki asked as he caught hold of Yoshiyuki, turning to find Maru and Moro hugging them.

The different kimonos the only way of knowing who was who, he jumped as the male in the striped one started in, "Not very well, now that my son's attached himself to you again."

He noticed the way his knee was holding his to the bench more than that the creature was crawling up his arm. "It's not my fault your crops are doing so well this year. If you weren't such an expert farmer I wouldn't have to watch your son so much."

Hideyuki smirked, "That black thing..."

"... is all Yûko's fault and you know it." Watanuki snapped right back with a smile.

"Koi..." Makiko coaxed. "You've played enough. Kimihiro's guest looks stunned."

They only laughed.

Scene 9

It was leaving the apothecary that he realized someone was missing. Nearly smiling at Dômeki's mistake, he realized Maru was gone too. "Moro, where's your sister?" he tried to stay calm as he took her hand.

"She's with Papa," Moro replied carelessly.

Rolling his eyes at his own stupidity, he pushed on his concern and tried to sense her. "That way?" he just asked.

"That way!" Mokona cheered as Moro nodded giggling.

Quickly searching for her, the sounds of flutes, drums, and a koto playing grew louder and louder. Rounding a corner, he found Dômeki and Maru dancing behind the music tent with a few others as the family of tree spirits played their wares. He only smiled before Moro pulled him out to dance too. The music softly flowed like a breeze through a forest, gently moving from one song to another as they ended up dancing beside each other.

He got suspicious as they pulled back at the same time. They bowed quickly before turning to each other and dancing away. Looking up, he was ready to turn and leave the dance floor. But that look in Dômeki's eyes stopped him.

Dômeki raised his hand, "Since they cut in..."

He found he could only nod as he took his hand, finally breaking eye contact as he felt his other on his hip. Willing the heat in his cheeks into his staring at his shoulder was all he could do as they slowly swayed to the music.

He felt as much as heard the chuckle as the song changed into a happier melody. Turning to find Dômeki smiling as he watched, he turned to find Maru and Moro dancing towards them. Moro pulling him away, he mouthed a 'sorry' over her as Dômeki barely nodded over Maru as they danced.

That song ended the dancing. After bowing to each of the girls with and inquisitive glare, and trying to ignore the giggles, small cheers and muffled squeals from the crowd as they bowed to each other; Dômeki turned to the young woman with a simple wooden flute. "It plays beautifully. Thank you," he said, offering a small charm.

The large man stepped close, taking the payment. "Our families have always cared for and protected each other. It is nice to see the tradition will continue."

He only nodded to them all before they left the tent. Dômeki couldn't be more smug. "It's nothing to brag about. You're just extremely familiar with their auras, so of course you'd be drawn to them," he coolly told him, not surprised they stopped mid-explanation.

Shock flashed across Dômeki's face as his arrogance was popped and replaced by happiness. "It is nice."

He smiled back, nodding. "Is there anything else you wanted to check out? The portal should be opening soon, you don't have much time." He asked as they started back down the colonnade.

"I'd like to, but we don't have time now. Could you bring me back again?"

He suddenly stopped. It was the implications. It wasn't how open he was, that he politely asked, it was what he was implying that got him. Hit close and hit hard.

He jumped at the gentle touch to his back. But he couldn't turn to him... "When we can come again," he spoke softly, the girls cheering as that touch slid from his back to his arm. He wanted to move, pull away, even run away from that hand. But as it slid down his arm, he found he was anxious for that hand to touch his own.

Like it had five times today.

Scene 10

He'd just stepped out the door, turning back to him. "Thank you for letting me come."

He was fidgety, framed in his doorway. "Thanks for coming. We really appreciate it."

He quirked an eye at that, watched as his gaze instantly snapped to the floor. "They deserve it," he replied as he stepped closer, softly kissing his forehead.

Snapping back up, he found they were barely inches apart. Those amber eyes just bore into his; so many emotions he didn't want to take... Forcing himself to blink, he lowered his eyes and found he was staring at his lips. Full lips he'd been wondering about for years.

Soft breaths ghosting across his face made it obvious. The next move was his. Sighing, he closed his eyes and turned slightly. His head, his heart, his soul, his everything was telling him to back away. Except a tiny voice that sounded suspiciously familiar...

He gave into temptation. A quick chaste kiss made the other man hum as he left.