First off, just so all of you know, I've read up to chapter one hundred and I have no problem writing spoilers into a fic. If you're not caught up, don't blame me if I give things away. Second, this is my first xxxHOLiC fickie. I'm in dire need of more Holic-ie goodness, but sadly all I can do at the moment is wait for the movie to download. So instead of wallowing in misery, I've decided to vent my xxxHOLiC love by writing this fun little fan fiction. It will of course be about my new favorite pairing: Watanuki and Doumeki 3 If that doesn't sit right with you, do both of us a favor and stop reading now.

Since this is my first fic written of this series, please let me know if anyone seems out of character. I'd appreciate it if you informed me in a polite way. I'm trying my best, so don't flame unless you're going to be creative and entertaining about it, okay? Right. Let the story begin!

Disclaimer: If xxxHOLiC was mine, Doumeki would be naked a good majority of the time. But it's not, so he isn't. …Sigh.

Chapter One: Someone To Walk With

"Damn that Yuuko! Why does she always make me do things like this?"

Watanuki walked, or rather stomped down the street shouting at nothing and performing what looked to those passing like a hideously mangled dance. However, to anyone who knew the dark-haired youth, it was his usual over dramatic gestures and mannerisms. As he sidestepped a mother walking with her child, he was almost certain they were giving him the same look he saw a woman give a crazy homeless man a day before.

"This is somehow Yuuko-san's fault!" He growled, quieter than before. An image of a taller boy smirking popped into his mind. "No! It's that Doumeki's fault! If I wasn't so angry about Yuuko-san sending me to see him, I wouldn't have been-"

"Flailing around like an idiot?"

"Yes, that's- YOU!" Watanuki pointed angrily at his 'friend' who suddenly stood in front of him. "Why are you here? And how dare you call me an idiot?"

Doumeki calmly ignored his classmate's usual melodrama. "So, that woman wanted you to see me?"

"You're not listening!" Slumping his shoulders, the boy turned around. "Yuuko-san, why do you do these things to me…?" He began to turn back towards Shizuka and nearly fell over when the taller boy was inches away from him. "Gah! Don't surprise me like that!"

"So, why did you need to see me?"

Watanuki glared before reaching into his pocket. Once he found what he was looking for, he held it out to Doumeki. "Here," A light blush was hinted across his cheeks. "She told me to give this to you."

The taller boy eyed the object before taking it. Holding it with two fingers, he turned his gaze back to Kimihiro. "What is it?"

"What does it look like?"

"It looks like a bracelet…"

"Then why are you asking me if you already know what it is?"

Doumeki's expression stayed the same. "I meant, what is it for?"

Watanuki threw his hands up in the air. "How should I know? You could ask Yuuko-san, but I doubt that witch would tell you anything useful!" He stood up straight and posed with his arms crossed and one finger on his chin. "She'd probably say something like: 'You'll find that bracelet to be very useful' or 'I'll tell you but you'll have to pay the appropriate price…'" He wrapped his arms around himself and dropped to the ground. "Yuuko-san, why are you so cruel?" He could just imagine the older woman holding a drink and laughing at him that very moment.

Shizuka removed his hands from his ears. "You're energetic today."

Leaping to his feet, Watanuki pointed his finger once again at his companion. "Don't make fun of me, you-!" As the light caught Doumeki's eyes it only took a single pang of guilt to make him completely lose his train of thought. He lowered his hand and turned away. "Since I, the great Watanuki am so compassionate, I'll let that slide for now." He began to walk away. Without turning around, he added: "Yuuko-san says to wear that bracelet on your right wrist. Don't be surprised if she wants you to pay for it later."

Doumeki looked once more at the bracelet before walking after Watanuki.

It wasn't long before the shorter boy realized what was going on. "Stop following me! Are you some kind of stalker?"

"I'm not following you." He answered, his expression unchanged. "I was going this way before I ran into you."

"Then walk on the other side of the street!" The boy gestured dramatically toward the opposing sidewalk. "I don't want to have to walk with you!"

"I'll walk wherever I want."

Growling, Watanuki stomped toward the crosswalk. "Fine! I'd rather walk over there than be seen… with…" He trailed off as a giant billowing mass of evil appeared on the other side of the street. Tears streamed down his cheeks. "Why does my luck have to be like this…?"

All the other boy could see was empty air, but he could guess what was there by the expression on Kimihiro's face. "Is it a big one?"

"…Yeah, it's huge."

"Do you need me to walk you back?"

Part of Watanuki was touched by the hint of concern in his friend's voice. Unfortunately, the other part wanted to punch the other boy for insinuating that he couldn't walk home by himself. So instead of answering, he just sighed and continued walking down the sidewalk, ignoring the creature looming just a few yards away.

He looked straight ahead. "So, what do you want in your lunch tomorrow?"

The taller boy considered for a moment. "How about… Hansuke Nabe."

Watanuki clenched his fists. He was just about to yell at his companion when he remembered the way one of Doumeki's eyes looked slightly different from the other. Then he remembered that it was because of him. He sighed once more and relaxed his hands. "Fine, whatever you want."

"…"

He turned and shouted at his friend. "But I had better hear a 'thank you, Watanuki-sama' tomorrow!"

"Whatever…"

"Hey! Don't blame me if I accidentally spill bleach in your food!"

"As long as it doesn't ruin the taste."

Watanuki bristled. "Is that all you can think about? You deserve to be poisoned, you know that?"

Doumeki, who was effectively tuning out Kimihiro raised his hand to scratch his head and remembered the bracelet he still held in his hand. It was rather plain. Just a silver chain with a single charm on it. It looked like a butterfly with its wings folded. He examined the clasp. He knew he wouldn't be able to put it on himself. Especially seeing as he was right-handed and he would need his left hand to put it on.

"Oi."

"How many times do I have to tell you?" He turned angrily. "My name's not 'oi'!"

Shizuka held up the bracelet. "Give me a hand with this."

"Hasn't anyone ever told you how to ask for something properly?" He scowled and stepped closer, keeping an eye on the creature that was still following from a safe distance. "You have no manners at all. It's a miracle Himawari-chan can find it in her compassionate heart to even look at her with her pure, beautiful eyes!"

Seeing that Watanuki had clearly gotten distracted, Doumeki grabbed one of his friend's hands and placed the bracelet in it. He then held his wrist in front of a startled Watanuki's face.

If looks could kill, the taller boy would have been a bloody mess on the sidewalk. "Did you not just hear what I said about manners? I'm not your servant, you know!"

"I never said you were." He continued to hold out his arm.

Grumbling under his breath, Watanuki grabbed the bracelet by both ends and wrapped it around Doumeki's wrist. He could feel his cheeks get slightly warmer. It made him uncomfortable standing this close to the other boy. It didn't help that he could hear a group of girls giggle about how cute of a couple they were. "There." When he glanced at Doumeki, he was certain there was the tiniest hint of a smirk. "What's so funny, huh?"

"I wasn't laughing."

"I saw that look on your face!" He shook his fist, resembling and old man. "Don't lie to me!"

"What's that on your wrist?"

"You're not listening to me!" He waved his arms around in frustration.

Instead of waiting for Kimihiro to calm down, he grabbed the boy's left wrist and examined it. The boy tried to pull away, but Doumeki had a firm grip. It seemed the bracelet he was given had a twin. Watanuki's looked exactly the same, except his butterfly was reversed. Suddenly realized that it wasn't a butterfly with it's wings folded, but a single half of a whole. They each wore the opposing half.

Watanuki's face was bright red when he was finally able to yank his hand away. He looked the other way and massaged his wrist. "Were you trying to pull my arm out of its socket?"

"What are these bracelets?"

"I already told you, I don't know!"

Doumeki began walking once more.

Trailing after him, Watanuki kept his distance without straying to far from his protection. The creature was still close.

How dare he just grab my arm like that? What business does he have grabbing my arm? I could have been just wearing a watch for all he knew! He continued grumbling the rest of the way.

When they reached the building that Watanuki lived in, they came to a halt. The sun would be setting soon, and he was glad to be home before dark. Yuuko had said he would be done for the day after he delivered the bracelet.

"Well, this is it." The shorter boy waved his hand in the direction of the apartments. "I guess you can go home now."

"…"

"What..?"

"I'm thirsty."

Watanuki's jaw nearly dropped. "What do you expect me to do about it?"

"Do you have any tea?"

"Of course I- No, go home and drink your own tea! I already told you I'm not your servant!" By the end of the sentence, the boy was throwing such a fit, it looked like he was having a seizure. Once he came to his senses, he realized that Doumeki had already started walking toward the entrance. "Where do you think you're going?"

Chapter One – End

So what do you all think? Did I do a decent job or have I destroyed all that is beautiful in the world of xxxHOLiC? I didn't realize capturing Watanuki's little freak outs would be so difficult. It's not easy to describe the different ways he tweaks out when he feels, well, any sort of emotion. With Doumeki, I had the opposite problem. It's hard to have a lot of variation with him, since he has so little to begin with. 3 The seemingly emotionless stud that he is. I don't know where the bracelet idea came from or where it's going, but let's all hope things turn out interesting.

Oh, and about the dish Doumeki asks, well, tells Watanuki to make for him. It's some sort of eel stew. I'm only assuming it's a pain to make, since I never have liked Asian cooking and know very little about it. I found a nice little site with a few different Japanese recipes and chose that one. Hopefully I chose right. ;

Here's the URL to that site, if you're interested: http/www.tsuji.ac.jp/hp/jpn/jpe/osaka/home.html

Next chapter: The boys are alone in Watanuki's apartment! 3

Please review. It not only makes me happy, but it really does inspire me to write more!