"Well, I didn't expect this," Fai said thoughtfully, staring at Watanuki, pulling at a light scarf around his neck with an amused glint in his eye. The blue orbs shifted over to Doumeki, who was seated not far from Watanuki, and the amusement transformed from mere amusement to something that almost resembled glee.

"I get it now," he proclaimed as he formed his hand into a fist and dropped it back down into his palm. "Well isn't that just poetic..."

He looked back and forth between the pair, his grin only widening, and Watanuki's confusion only growing. His gaze seemed to be hungrily taking in all the details of the two of them.

"I don't suppose," whined Watanuki, "that you'd be interested in explaining what you're talking about?"

Fai shifted his gaze back onto Watanuki and left it there, staring intently now. Instead of the flitting, consuming scan, now there was only intense concentration. If possible, it made Watanuki even more ill at ease.

"You've told him nothing, have you?" questioned Fai finally. Watanuki searched his brain for context before realizing that though the gaze was on himself, the question was directed elsewhere.

Doumeki however, was staring purposefully away with his brows furrowed in... something. Anger? Embarrassment? Shame? It was impossible for Watanuki to tell. He still knew though that it meant nothing good. There were no answers to be found from Doumeki. Fai seemed to understand that also.

"You're a Conduit. His Conduit to be exact," Fai trilled.

Fai seemed almost excited to be able to explain this to him. Watanuki almost felt bad that he could feel the excitement draining away from the lack of response.

Fai observed Watanuki's perturbed expression, and then frowned as he seemed torealize how much farther back he needed to go.

"The energy, power, magic, in there air," he sighed, waving his arms around. "You pull in the energy in the air. And you're compatible with him." He pointed at Doumeki accusingly.

"Compatible?" Watanuki stammered, until he realized the stranger part of what Fai had said. "Are you calling me a... parasite or something?"

"No, no," reassured Fai. "It doesn't hurt him at all. He has the energy to spare. It's natural for him. Some people are just... oh this is getting nowhere at-"

Fai stopped suddenly as it seemed an idea occurred to him. He looked back towards the doorway, and a mischievous grin appeared on his face.

"Well, you see," he smirked, the change in his voice almost lilting, "For example, Kuro-puu and I are connected in such a way that if we do this and that and the if he touches me just right and-"

"YOU SHUT YOUR DELUSIONAL MOUTH!"

The door to the room was slammed open with such force that Watanuki was surprised the thing was still in one piece. In the doorway stood the dark man they had met earlier, his chest heaving and his face red with rage. His threatening persona was a bit diminished by the arm bound in front of him with a sling and the bandages placed on various parts of his body. It still did little to dampen the violent aura.

"Oh Kuro-chi, what a surprise," chided Fai, batting his eyelashes. The man narrowed his eyes at Fai's dramatics, silently shooting daggers with his gaze.

"Well, if you're going to wait at the door, you could at least be more discrete about it." Fai turned back to Watanuki again. "You see he's just so protective of me he can't help but-"

"I will cut you in half," growled the man. Watanuki felt his hair pricking up from the overwhelming prescience of the angry man, but Fai seemed immune to the atmosphere.

"Anyway," continued Fai as if the man had said nothing, "Kuro-pii can help you understand. Come here..."

"It's Kurogane!" roared the man, but he allowed himself to be dragged by the arm over to where Watanuki was sitting. Watanuki started to shift to move away from the two of them.

"Oh no, it's ok!" promised Fai, letting go of Kurogane's arm and holding out his hands to Watanuki in peace. "His bark is way worse than his bite. He won't hurt you."

Watanuki felt his suspicion subsiding in the friendly tone and movements of the blonde man.

"Besides, if it does anything, I'll make sure and punish later," jested Fai, as he tugged on the loose scarf around his neck again. Fai ignored the new growl from the other man. "Show him, Kuro-tan."

Kurogane rolled his eyes and turned to face Watanuki. "Just relax, kid," he muttered before reaching out and placing his hand between Watanuki's shoulder and neck.

Heat flared out from the touch and flushed from Kurogane's fingertips through Watanuki's body. Watanuki's first reaction was to recoil, but the firm grip held him in place. He tried to squirm away for a few moments before realizing something strange about the touch.

The sensation was like flames licking at his skin, but there was no pain. His mind told him that there was fire being held against him, but it was only in perception. After the initial surprise, there was no response from his body to move away from damage to his body. It was slightly unpleasant, but it did not hurt.

Kurogane withdrew his hand and Watanuki felt the harsh flames leaving him. Fai smiled at Watanuki somewhat apologetically, before extending his hand slowly toward Watanuki. Watanuki looked into Fai's cobalt eyes and understood that he meant no harm.

Fai's fingertips reached Watanuki's cheek and a cooling sensation unwound under his skin. It was almost a chill, but it felt welcoming in response to the flames that were underneath him moments before. The cold seemed to seep into his skin, but Fai pulled away before it became uncomfortable.

Watanuki was left with his skin almost as it was originally, but at the same time feeling dissonant. He wrapped his arms around his own body, almost defensively. The whole ordeal hadn't been painful, but it wasn't exactly something he wanted to experience again.

Both of the men stared at him curiously. Watanuki faintly felt like some sort of circus attraction.

"I'm a Conduit," exhaled Fai finally. "And Kuro-chin is a Source. He pushes energy outward. I take energy inward."

Watanuki felt all of his energy gone. His mind understood none of this.

"You have a problem with spirits, don't you?" Fai mused. Seeing Watanuki's apprehensive glance, Fai continued. "I felt it when I touched you. I felt your pull."

Watanuki looked down at his own hands, his own skin. He almost felt mistrustful of his own body.

"Do you mean you feel a chill when you touch me?" concluded Watanuki. He saw a hint of surprise on Fai's face before his expression was glossed over again with his same amused smile.

"When I touch you, I feel ice," Fai smiled, raising his hand slowly.

Watanuki felt panic rising from his stomach. The hand was discolored in what looked near frostbite.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine shortly. I was just a bit careless in meeting you," explained Fai, rubbing the hand. "You're much more than I thought you would be..."

Kurogane moved towards Fai reaching to his arm almost protectvely. Watanuki's thoughts shifted from guilt to nervousness from retaliation from the more threatening man.

"I think we can definitely do something with you two," chortled Fai. "But first we need to do something about that collar..."