[Fanfic] Full Circle: Chapter 9
I'm back in action!
Title: Full Circle
Author: Miss Shad
Fandom: xxxHolic
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Mild AU
Summary: The story of Kimihiro Watanuki and Shizuka Doumeki. One yearns to know where he belongs, the other yearns to feel needed. Through the ties of their fates--and a little help from a certain Dimensional Witch--they may find both.
Previous Chapters: Prelude & 1-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
CHAPTER 9:
FRIENDS
To Mamoru, the day of the picnic was already off to a perfect start. The sky was a pure blue, hardly anyone else seemed to be at the park, and the temperature was comfortably warm, which satisfied Mamoru most of all since the end of spring was approaching and the searing heat of summer (which he despised) would surely be coming soon.
With Hinanjo and Kimihiro at his side, Mamoru entered the park and quickly spotted Shino and Shizuka waiting for him near a pair of benches that were shaped like a duck and a dog, respectively. Waving happily, he ran to them.
"I made it," he said, bowing at Shino. "Had a dreadful time getting here; the bus wound up hitting every bloody stoplight…"
Shino put a hand over her mouth and giggled softly. "Don't worry about it," she said, "we've only been waiting a short time."
"Good to know," said Mamoru. He cleared his throat. "Still, we mustn't delay things any longer…" Hinanjo laid down the checkered blanket she had been carrying, and Mamoru sat the basket of food down.
"Father wasn't able to make it," said Shino. "He had to stay at the temple and lead the fire ceremony."
"That so?" said Mamoru. "Oh well; I guess he shouldn't neglect his responsibilities…but what about Tsuduki? I don't see him anywhere-"
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Mamoru felt something heavy tackle him and pin him to the ground. Looking up, his irate green eyes met a familiar pair of hazel eyes, along with a dopey smile that was equally familiar. "Never mind," Mamoru muttered, "he's here…"
"Whoo! Now how's that for a swell greeting?" said Tsuduki, releasing his bespectacled friend.
Mamoru sat up and brushed the dirt off his clothes. "A simple 'hello' would have been enough, thank you."
"Ahh come on Mamo! I thought you'd like a little excitement!"
"Perhaps, but not your foolish brand of it…"
"You just never know how to lighten up, do ya?" said Tsuduki. His eager eyes fell upon the picnic basket, and he peered inside. "So whatcha bring, Mamo? It's been so long; I hope you remembered all my favorites…" He rummaged further. "Aha! Dango! Bean jam buns! And a cake too! Sweet! Ha ha! I knew I could count on you Mamo-"
Mamoru slammed the basket lid down on Tsuduki's hand.
"AAAAAH! OWWIE OWWIE!" Tsuduki shrieked, pulling his hand free and shaking it in an attempt to stop the pain.
"Keep your greedy hands out of there, Duki!" said Mamoru.
Tsuduki, in spite of his stinging hand, gave Mamoru a naughty smile. "Hey, it's my food, you made it for me; I'll get my hands all over it if I want!"
"I made it for ALL OF US, you-you brainless buffoon, you!"
Kimihiro, who had been remarkably silent, sat on the dog-shaped bench and watched Mamoru and Tsuduki's quarrel, slothfully kicking his legs. Looking to his right, he saw Shizuka sitting beside him, this time not dressed in a girl's kimono but in a black t-shirt with blue shorts.
"Yo," said Shizuka.
Snarling, Kimihiro shoved Shizuka off the bench and knocked him to the ground. Shizuka peered up at Kimihiro with puzzled eyes for a moment, then hurriedly crawled over to his mother.
"Kimihiro!" shouted Hinanjo. "How rude! Why did you do that to Shizuka?"
Kimihiro folded his arms and glowered. "Because he was there!"
"Well, that's no excuse! You could have hurt him!"
"I don't care! He was bugging me!"
"Bugging you? He was just trying to say hello! Now come over here and tell him you're sorry!"
Kimihiro reluctantly got off the bench. On the edge of the blanket, Shizuka was being held by Shino, his head buried in her kimono in an attempt to hide his irritation.
"Hey," said Kimihiro, approaching Shizuka and Shino.
Shizuka looked up, wearing an annoyed frown. "What?"
"I'm sorry I pushed you," said Kimihiro.
"No you're not." Shizuka looked away and laid his head back down on Shino's chest.
"What do you mean I'm not?" Kimihiro retorted.
"'Cause that's what you said last time," said Shizuka.
"Well…well this time I mean it, okay?"
Shizuka sat up and sighed. "Okay. But you BETTER mean it." He turned to Shino. "Lemme go now. I feel better."
Shino released her grip on him, and he inched towards the picnic basket. Kimihiro sat down on the blanket beside him, but quickly turned his back and scowled.
Shizuka eyed the basket. "Whatcha bring, Uncle Mamo?"
"Uncle Mamo?" snapped Mamoru, glaring at Tsuduki.
Tsuduki grinned and scratched the back of his neck. "Well, Dad always did say you were his other son…"
Mamoru shook his head. He turned to Shizuka and pointed at Tsuduki. "Don't listen to that silly uncle of yours," he said, "just call me Mr. Watanuki, all right?"
"Ummm…okay," said Shizuka. "Whatcha bring, Mr. Watanuki?"
"Much better," said Mamoru. "And to answer your question: all sorts of things!" He opened the basket. Tsuduki leaned forward and tried to reach inside, but Mamoru gave him a look that sent him cowering back. "Now, let's see here…" he dug around in the basket, "…ah, here's some inari-zushi; do you like that?"
"It's my favorite," said Shizuka.
"That's a new one," said Shino, "yesterday it was yakisoba."
"Inari-zushi it is then," said Mamoru. "Now what would you like, Kimi?"
"A big piece of cake!" said Kimihiro.
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait," said Mamoru, "that's only for dessert."
"But I want it nooowww!" Kimihiro squealed, putting on his best big-eyed pouting face.
"I'm sorry, but you'll just have to be patient."
"Can't I have just a little bite?"
"No."
"A reeeeallly little bite?"
"Kimihiro, that's enough!" Hinanjo interjected. "Dad said no!"
Kimihiro clenched his fists. "Grrrr! RULES!"
Mamoru continued rummaging through the basket's contents. "What would you like besides cake?"
"Well Shizuka's uncle said you made dango-"
"-I meant something that's NOT dessert."
Kimihiro sighed. "Rice balls…I guess…"
"Good choice," said Mamoru. "And you, Shino?"
"Everything you make is always so wonderful, Mamoru," said Shino, "you know I have a hard time choosing!"
Mamoru blushed. "Well if it makes things any easier, I made plenty of karage…I haven't forgotten how much you love my recipe."
Shino smiled. "You are the sweetest thing!"
Now Mamoru's face was redder (and hotter) than ever before. "Please, Shino…" But Shino just laughed at him cutely, which only made things much worse.
Clearing his throat and trying to shake off Shino's fawning, Mamoru turned to Hinanjo. "And what about you?"
"Spring rolls," said Hinanjo. "That is, if someone hasn't already gotten into them…"
"What?"
Hinanjo frowned and pointed at the picnic basket. Mamoru turned around and saw that Tsuduki was up to his old tricks again. Furious, he yanked Tsuduki's arm away from the food and gripped it tightly. "Duki, I TOLD you to stay out of there!"
Tsuduki pulled free from Mamoru's clutches with little struggle. "Hey, hey! What's the big deal? Everyone else got to choose!"
"What YOU were doing was not choosing," said Mamoru, "it was TAKING. There's a distinct difference, and it's about time you learned it!" He sighed and began getting the food out of the basket. "You Doumekis and your appetites…"
"You Watanukis and your hysterics," Tsuduki playfully countered.
Mamoru whirled around and brandished his fist. "You want hysterics; I'll bloody well show you hysterics!"
Shino giggled at her brother and friend as though she were watching some sort of wonderful comedy routine, but Hinanjo gained no such amusement from the skirmish. "Quiet! Both of you! I'd rather cut my own ears off than to hear any more of your nonsense!"
That quieted them down instantly. "Well then…no need to show me, Mamo," said Tsuduki, "looks like your wife's already filled the hysterics quota for today."
Hinanjo folded her arms and scowled. "I'm not hysterical," she declared, "I'm just not afraid to speak my mind."
Tsuduki smirked. "Well, I think maybe both you and your hubby oughta take a serious chill pill. Just relax once in a while and live it up…like I'm about to do once I get my hands on some tempura!" His smirk changed to an adorable pout not unlike the one Kimihiro had tried to pull off earlier. "Please, Mamo, pretty pretty please?" He flaunted all his teeth in an expectant grin.
Mamoru sighed and handed over the tempura, then gave everyone else their respective selections. After they had all received their fare, they said "itadakimasu!"together, then dug in.
Tsuduki began shoveling the much-desired tempura into his mouth at once. Mamoru rolled his eyes and shook his head; he had seen this kind of gluttony from Tsuduki many times in the past, and he found it every bit as foolish now as he did back then. Shino, despite being a Doumeki, had none of her brother's voracity, and while she passionately loved Mamoru's cooking, she enjoyed her karage quite peacefully. But oh, how Mamoru could cook…
She recalled her first experience with Mamoru's culinary talent; he had made karage for her on that day as well. She recalled how she had bestowed upon him praise that sent him into a frenzy of joy (and much blushing): that he would certainly make wonderful food for his future family, who would love it just as much as she did. Hearing Hinanjo compliment him on the spring rolls he'd made, she smiled with satisfaction, for her prediction had indeed come true. And not just her prediction, but the hope buried within it as well-the hope for him to find happiness. After all, she had decided that as long as Mamoru was happy, then she would be happy as well.
Yes, Mamoru was certainly very, very happy; the more she watched and listened to him and his wife, the more evident it became. She kept her eyes squarely on him, memory after memory still flowing freely into her mind…and then her smile began to fade.
Raising his chopsticks to his mouth, Mamoru took note of Shino and the forlorn look upon her face. "Shino?"
She perked up.
"Are you all right?" Mamoru asked.
Shino nodded. "I…well, I…" She looked down. "I was just remembering the first time you cooked for me."
"Ah, I see," said Mamoru. "But shouldn't that be a happy memory?"
Shino tried to smile again. "It is."
"What about the first time I made dessert for you? Is that a happy one as well?"
Shino looked up. "Oh yes! The cream puffs! I loved them!"
Mamoru chuckled. "Well, I haven't forgotten that either…I've got some with me that I made just for you."
Shino's eyes lit up. "Oh, thank you SO much!"
"Now there's the Shino I know," said Mamoru, patting her head the way he had so often done in the past. Now it was Shino's turn to blush as the warm bliss of those days flooded over her, ceasing to be a mere memory and softening into a tangible sensation.
After giving her a fond smile, Mamoru resumed eating. Shino likewise turned her attention back to the karage, though a dull ache still vexed her heart and stiffened her joy.
Ignoring the goings-on of the adults, Kimihiro took a bite out of his rice ball. Mamoru had given him three; this was his second and he would soon have the third. After eating the last of it, he reached over for the next one…only to find it gone.
"Huh?" He looked over and saw Shizuka helping himself to the rice ball. "HEY! That's MINE!"
"You weren't eating it," said Shizuka casually.
"I was GONNA!" Kimihiro shook his fist at Shizuka. "Now give it back!"
Shizuka took another bite. "Nope," he said with his mouth full, then swallowed. "You wanna save room for that cake, dontcha?"
"Oh! Right!" said Kimihiro.
"So I'm helpin' ya then." He stuffed the last bit of the rice ball into his mouth.
"I guess so…WAIT! That's not helping! That's RUDE!"
Shizuka picked up some inari-zushi with his chopsticks. "You pushing me was rude."
"But you're ruder!"
"Don't you mean more rude?"
"SHUT UP! I don't know!" Kimihiro sighed and looked in the picnic basket. "Got any pickled veggies in here, Dad?"
"Certainly," said Mamoru, digging through the basket and getting them out. "Nice choice, Kimi! They're ever so good for you."
Kimihiro frowned. "I'm only eatin' em 'cause of Shizuka,"
"Ah! How wonderful! The Doumekis' love of food is encouraging you to eat better!"
Kimihiro wanted to tell his father about Shizuka's rice ball snatching, but said nothing and passively ate the vegetables. He looked over at Shizuka, who was finishing up his last piece of inari-zushi. He remembered the talk he'd had with Mamoru about the Doumekis the day before; he had shrugged off Mamoru's testimony of his fantastic friendship with them, yet he still felt his curiosity being piqued by one statement in particular.
"Umm…Shizuka?" said Kimihiro.
Shizuka looked up, still chewing. "Hmm?"
"My Dad says your people can make spirits go away…is that true?"
"Yeah, my grandpa can."
"But can you?"
Shizuka's eyes widened and he hastily swallowed. "Uhh…I…" he hunched his shoulders up. "I don't know. I've never tried it before."
Kimihiro scrunched his face and tapped the side of his head, thinking. Then an idea hit him, and he smiled. "Hey!" he said.
"What?"
"You wanna go to the other side of the park and play?"
"Play what?"
"Ummm…" He glanced off to the right, trying to think up a fib. "Well…uhh…I-I just thought up this great game! But we can't play it over here 'cause…umm…we…don't have enough room."
"What kind of game?" said Shizuka. "It better not be anything dumb."
"I'll tell you when we get there, okay?"
"Get where?" said Hinanjo.
"Uhh, me and Shizuka wanna go play on the other side of the park," said Kimihiro, "you know, where all the swings and stuff are. And like…right now."
"Now?" said Mamoru. "Don't you want dessert? Some of that cake you were begging me for perhaps?"
"Uhh…uhhh…" Kimihiro shook his head. "N-No thanks…" he patted his belly, "I'm too full."
"How about you, Shizuka?"
"I'll have a bean jam bu-" Kimihiro jabbed him with an elbow and gave him a serious look. "Uh, I mean, no thank you."
"Woo-hoo!" said Tsuduki. "More for me then!" He excitedly reached into the basket.
Shizuka turned to Shino. "Mom, can I go play with Kimihiro?"
"Hmm, what do you think Hinanjo?" said Shino. She leaned closer and muttered, "Do you think it's such a good idea, considering what happened in the mall?"
Hinanjo sighed and frowned.
"Please Mama, pleeeeaaaase?" said Kimihiro.
After a moment of thought, Hinanjo smiled. "Well, all right," she said, "as long as you two have a grown-up with you."
"Darn!" Kimihiro grunted, pounding his fist on the ground.
"S'matter?" said Shizuka.
"Shhh! You be quiet!"
"Tsuduki," said Shino to her brother, who had a skewer of dango raised to his lips, "do you think you could take the boys to the other side of the park and keep an eye on them?"
Tsuduki jolted, dropping the dango. He spun around and stared at his sister in disbelief. "ME?"
"Yes Duki, she said you," said Mamoru sternly.
Tsuduki wilted. "Aww Sis, do I HAVE to?"
"I'm afraid so," said Shino. "The boys can't be running around by themselves."
"Can't Mamo take them?"
"Actually, maybe he could come with you," said Hinanjo. "He could watch Kimihiro and you could watch Shizuka."
Tsuduki let out a long, sniveling sigh. "But what about my dango?"
"You can glut yourself later, Duki," said Mamoru, standing up. "Besides, you've already dropped it in the dirt."
"Oh crap, you're right! I did!" He reached down and picked it up. Mamoru promptly slapped his hand, flinging the dango away.
"What?" said Tsuduki. "No sense in wasting perfectly good food!"
Mamoru yanked Tsuduki's arm. "It stopped being 'perfectly good' once it got covered in dirt!"
"But…but…what about the ten second rule…or is it the twenty second rule…gah, I don't know!"
"Duki, just stop whining and come with me! Your precious dango can wait!"
"All right! I'm coming! Now let go of my arm, okay?"
Mamoru released his grip, and Tsuduki got up. He looked down at Kimihiro and Shizuka. "So…you two ready to go?"
They both nodded.
"All righty then, we're off." He and Mamoru walked on, Shizuka and Kimihiro following. "Well, I guess this isn't so bad," said Tsuduki to the boys, "after all, Uncle Mamo never liked being alone…"
"Don't call me that!" Mamoru barked.
"Why doesn't he like to be called Uncle Mamo?" asked Shizuka.
"Ah, don't mind him," Tsuduki said with a smile, "he's just crabby 'cause he hasn't had me around lately to wipe the smudges off his glasses."
"My glasses happen to be just fine, thank you!" said Mamoru.
Tsuduki laughed, the boys joining in. Mamoru lowered his head and scowled.
They reached the other side of the park, where the playground was located. Hinanjo took Kimihiro to this spot quite often, and under normal circumstances he would have gleefully dashed right over to the swings and merry-go-round. At this moment, however, his focus lay on the grove of trees farther back. He scurried between Mamoru and Tsuduki, and Shizuka came waddling after him.
"Whoa, now!" Tsuduki called. "What's the hurry? Godzilla comin' after ya?"
"We've been waiting to play!" said Kimihiro.
"Not for very long," said Tsuduki, "that was a pretty short walk."
"Well, we were still waiting! Shizuka and I have been really excited about this awesome game I thought up!"
"Oh?" said Mamoru. "And just what is this 'awesome game?'"
Kimihiro flinched. "It's…uhh…well, it's…I-I call it 'Piffle!'"
"What kind of a game is that?" said Shizuka.
"Just you wait, okay?" Kimihiro muttered through gnashed teeth. He then gave Shizuka a clever wink.
"Well, it sure sounds like fun," said Tsuduki. "You two mind if I join ya?"
"Uhh…sorry, it's a game for just two," said Kimihiro. "And…Shizuka and I kinda need to go over by that big tree and…talk about the rules." He grabbed Shizuka's hand and led him to the tree. Once he looked around and made sure they were out of earshot, he turned to Shizuka.
"Okay, here's the deal," Kimihiro whispered. "You see all those trees over there past the swings?"
Shizuka nodded.
"Well, there's this one tree over there that's got a big hole in the bottom, and I think it's haunted."
"Haunted?" said Shizuka.
Kimihiro slammed a hand over Shizuka's mouth. "Shhhh! They'll hear you!" He looked over his shoulder at Mamoru and Tsuduki. They were sitting on a bench some distance away and seemed not to have heard. "Anyway," he continued, "I think there's a ghost hiding out in that tree. I can feel it."
"Feel it?"
"When ghosts are around, I get tingly all over and I feel sick. And whenever I got close to that tree, I felt that way."
"So what are you gonna do?"
"I want you to get it out of there. If you can make spirits go away like your grandpa can, you can get the ghost out of the tree."
Shizuka looked down. "But I told you, I've never tried that."
"Well then, here's your chance to try!"
"But what if I can't do it?"
Kimihiro scowled. "Look, do ya wanna give it a try or not?"
"Well…I…uh, what about your dad and my uncle? Won't they see us?"
"You leave that to me. Wait here." He ran towards the bench, where Mamoru and Tsuduki were caught up in a friendly chat, all the while still minding the boys.
"You see what I mean, Duki?" said Mamoru. "The two of them over there whispering secrets to each other…they're a practically perfect little pair!"
"You really think so?" said Tsuduki.
Mamoru gave him a wry grin. "Well, just who do they remind you of?"
Tsuduki scratched the back of his head. "Uhh…you and my sister."
Mamoru shrugged. "Close enough."
Kimihiro came running up to them. "Dad! Dad!"
"Yes, Kimi?" said Mamoru.
"Umm…" He glanced off to the side, trying to think quickly. Then he smiled. "You wanna tell Shizuka's uncle about the pasgeddy incident?"
"You mean spaghetti incident," said Mamoru, "and I'm not so sure I should tell that story…"
"Aww come on Mamo, tell me!" said Tsuduki. "I love a good story with food in it!"
Mamoru sighed. "Well, all right." He turned to Tsuduki and began telling the story. "So, my mother was visiting…"
Seeing that the two of them were sufficiently distracted, Kimihiro scurried back to Shizuka. "Okay, the coast is clear. Now let's go!" He took Shizuka by the hand and led him to the tree. Soon they approached, and Shizuka saw that it was just as Kimihiro described-a large hollowed-out space rested in the bottom of its trunk. When they were still some inches away, Kimihiro let go of Shizuka's hand and stepped back.
"Why did you stop?" said Shizuka, looking over his shoulder.
"I don't wanna get any closer to it," said Kimihiro. "I'm feelin' pretty bad already." Indeed, Shizuka could see a slight trembling in his friend's limbs.
Shizuka sidled closer to the tree. "What do you want me to do?"
Kimihiro looked at the hole. Above the sounds of birds and the occasional passing car, he could clearly hear a dreadful panting from deep within. He winced at the thought of what the source of this noise could possibly be. On top of the panting, the rotting stench common to unpleasant spirits was beginning to overload his senses.
"Think you can stick your head in there?" he asked Shizuka.
Shizuka bent down for a better look. It was not an enormous hole, but it wasn't small either. "Maybe."
"Okay," said Kimihiro. "Stick your head in the hole and tell the ghost to go away."
"That's it?" said Shizuka. "Just tell it to go? Why can't you do that?"
Kimihiro shook his head angrily. "That never works! Now put your head in that stinkin' hole and get it outta there!"
Shizuka looked at the hole, then Kimihiro, then back to the hole again. He sighed heavily and got down on the ground, crawling up to the hole. Hesitantly he stuck his head inside, moving back slightly to make sure he hadn't become stuck. "Uhh…hello?" he said, his voice echoing in the blackness. "Anybody home?"
As soon as Shizuka put his head in, Kimihiro heard the panting abruptly stop, and immediately afterwards the terrible smell also left. Feeling much better overall, Kimihiro got closer to Shizuka and the tree. "Umm…Shizuka," he said, "I think it might already-"
"You idiot," Shizuka interrupted. "I don't see no ghost…just a bunch of dirt and spider webs and…and…" Now Kimihiro heard another panting sound-this time from Shizuka, and this one sounded much more alarming.
"You okay in there?" said Shizuka. "I think you can come out now…"
Suddenly Shizuka began to cough loudly and forcefully, and in between the coughs was a wheezing that made Kimihiro think Shizuka was going to choke.
"Shizuka! Get outta there!" He grabbed Shizuka's collar and yanked him out of the hole. Shizuka sat up, dead leaves and cobwebs caught in his hair, and his eyes wide with suffering as he gasped for air.
"Are you okay?" said Kimihiro, hastily brushing some dirt and twigs off Shizuka's shoulders.
Shizuka started coughing again. "Go…" he wheezed, "go get my uncle…"
"I can't just leave you here! Can you get up?"
Shizuka hunched over, coughing too badly to answer.
"Come on!" He pulled Shizuka to his feet, then held his hand and rushed back towards Mamoru and Tsuduki.
"…and that's why I never engage in political discussions with taxi drivers," said Mamoru, still chatting away with Tsuduki. "Now, back to the spaghetti…"
"Dad! Dad! Dad!" Kimihiro yelled.
"Aww, just when it was about to get good…" said Tsuduki.
Mamoru turned in the direction of his son's voice. "Yes, what is it now?"
Kimihiro ran up to the bench with Shizuka, himself quite short of breath now. "Something's wrong with Shizuka," he said, "he's coughing and stuff really bad…he told me to get his uncle."
"That would of course be me," said Tsuduki, getting off the bench and picking up his rasping nephew. "It's better if we get him back to his mom. She'll know what to do." He walked off with Shizuka in his arms. "Now, just try to relax," he said to him, "I know it's hard, but if you get all panicky it's just going to make it worse."
"Is he gonna be okay?" Kimihiro asked his father as the two of them walked alongside Tsuduki.
"I'm sure he will," said Mamoru. "Haruka told me this happens to him a lot."
Soon they found their way back to the picnic blanket, where Hinanjo and Shino were still sitting. Shino quickly noticed them, and when she heard her son's labored breathing, there was no need for any explanation from Tsuduki-she knew this situation far too well. As her brother sat Shizuka down in front of her, she reached for her purse, pulled out Shizuka's inhaler, and gave it to him. With his distresses soon gone after using it (although he never found it to be quite as effective as Haruka's herbs), he handed it back to Shino and she put it back in her purse.
"What caused it this time, Shizuka?" she asked him.
"Kimihiro made me stick my head in a tree trunk," said Shizuka bluntly.
"I did NOT!" shrieked Kimihiro.
"There was a bunch of dirt and old leaves and stuff in there," Shizuka continued, ignoring him. "It made me cough."
"He's lying!" said Kimihiro. "Lying, lying, lying!"
Hinanjo looked sternly at her son. "I don't think Shizuka'sthe one lying here, Kimihiro. Now, why did you make him stick his head in the tree?"
"Yeah," Tsuduki chimed in, sitting down on the blanket alongside Mamoru. "I thought you two were playing some game…was that part of it or something?"
Kimihiro looked at Tsuduki, then his mother, then Shizuka. He shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "Yeah…yeah it was…I'm sorry." He peered up at Shino. "You're not mad at me are you, Miss…uh, Miss Shizuka's Mom?"
Shino laughed slightly at the name. "No, I can understand. You just wanted to play. But Shizuka's…well, he's a little delicate. Just try to remember that next time you two play, all right?"
Kimihiro nodded, relieved that she didn't ask further and find out what they were really up to. Shizuka sat with his head drooped low and his eyes closed, and Kimihiro could swear he heard a faint sniffling sound.
"Umm, you okay?" Kimihiro asked, leaning closer to Shizuka.
Shizuka didn't answer.
"Are you crying?"
Shizuka quickly shook his head no, but another sniffle made Kimihiro quite unconvinced.
"Shizuka come on, what's the matter?"
Shizuka sighed heavily and looked up, his yellow eyes growing watery. "I can't do nothin'!"
"What do you mean nothin'?" said Kimihiro.
Shizuka rubbed his eyes. "I'll never be like my grandpa, or Gentaro…I can't make spirits go away! I couldn't make that one in the tree go away, could I?"
"Actually, uh," said Kimihiro, "I think you did."
Shizuka perked up. "Really?"
"Yeah. After you stuck your head in there, the tingly feeling I get when ghosts are around went away. I think you got it out of there."
Shizuka put his hands on the blanket and leaned closer to Kimihiro, his eyes wide. "Really? Did I?"
"I really think so," said Kimihiro. "So, umm…thanks." He smiled halfheartedly. "Now I can go play by that tree without getting all woozy."
A stunned look came upon Shizuka's face which was soon replaced by a big, grateful smile uncharacteristic of him. He threw his arms around Kimihiro and gave him a hug.
"Ahh! Leggo! Leggo!" squealed Kimihiro, pushing Shizuka away. "I still think you're weird, you know!"
"I think you're weird too," said Shizuka, struggling to reclaim his grasp.
Mamoru covered his mouth with his hands, laughing so hard he was on the brink of tears. Tsuduki looked at him oddly. "What's so funny?"
Mamoru uncovered his mouth. "I…I just…" He grinned toothily and pounded his fist on the ground, still trying to suppress his glee. "They…are just…a riot!" He burst into laughter again, clutching his stomach.
Tsuduki watched his nephew's tussle with his new friend for a moment, then soon he could feel a good laugh creeping up his gullet as well. "On second thought," he said, "maybe they're not so much like you and my sister after all."
Mamoru took a breath and stopped laughing. "What do you mean?"
Tsuduki gave Mamoru a hearty slap on the back. "They're more like us,ya old four-eyed sourball! Wasn't that what you were getting at earlier?"
Mamoru frowned and rubbed his back. "Yes," he mumbled, "and it's a much more terrible comparison than I thought…"
"But hey," said Tsuduki, putting a hand on Mamoru's shoulder, "if they really are like us, then they'll be fussin' and feudin' for a long, long, long time."
Mamoru raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You know, just like we've always done. But look where all that crap's gotten us." He winked playfully.
Mamoru smiled. "You're a daft one, Duki. You always have been. Daft…and clever." He ruffled Tsuduki's hair. Tsuduki laughed and shoved him away.
"Aww, don't," he said. "Now if you're done with your flattery, I'm ready for more dango!" He reached into the basket and grabbed two skewers, one in each hand.
"I want some too," said Shizuka. Tsuduki handed his nephew one of the skewers.
"Me too!" said Kimihiro.
"Only if you say I'm not weird," said Shizuka.
"If I said you weren't weird, I'd be lying!"
Shizuka stuck the dango in his mouth and plugged his ears.
Mamoru watched them again, this time not finding their antics quite so funny…nostalgic was more like it. "Yes, Duki…just like us." He began to laugh softly again. "But maybe…somehow…even better."
Title: Full Circle
Author: Miss Shad
Fandom: xxxHolic
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Mild AU
Summary: The story of Kimihiro Watanuki and Shizuka Doumeki. One yearns to know where he belongs, the other yearns to feel needed. Through the ties of their fates--and a little help from a certain Dimensional Witch--they may find both.
Previous Chapters: Prelude & 1-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
CHAPTER 9:
FRIENDS
To Mamoru, the day of the picnic was already off to a perfect start. The sky was a pure blue, hardly anyone else seemed to be at the park, and the temperature was comfortably warm, which satisfied Mamoru most of all since the end of spring was approaching and the searing heat of summer (which he despised) would surely be coming soon.
With Hinanjo and Kimihiro at his side, Mamoru entered the park and quickly spotted Shino and Shizuka waiting for him near a pair of benches that were shaped like a duck and a dog, respectively. Waving happily, he ran to them.
"I made it," he said, bowing at Shino. "Had a dreadful time getting here; the bus wound up hitting every bloody stoplight…"
Shino put a hand over her mouth and giggled softly. "Don't worry about it," she said, "we've only been waiting a short time."
"Good to know," said Mamoru. He cleared his throat. "Still, we mustn't delay things any longer…" Hinanjo laid down the checkered blanket she had been carrying, and Mamoru sat the basket of food down.
"Father wasn't able to make it," said Shino. "He had to stay at the temple and lead the fire ceremony."
"That so?" said Mamoru. "Oh well; I guess he shouldn't neglect his responsibilities…but what about Tsuduki? I don't see him anywhere-"
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Mamoru felt something heavy tackle him and pin him to the ground. Looking up, his irate green eyes met a familiar pair of hazel eyes, along with a dopey smile that was equally familiar. "Never mind," Mamoru muttered, "he's here…"
"Whoo! Now how's that for a swell greeting?" said Tsuduki, releasing his bespectacled friend.
Mamoru sat up and brushed the dirt off his clothes. "A simple 'hello' would have been enough, thank you."
"Ahh come on Mamo! I thought you'd like a little excitement!"
"Perhaps, but not your foolish brand of it…"
"You just never know how to lighten up, do ya?" said Tsuduki. His eager eyes fell upon the picnic basket, and he peered inside. "So whatcha bring, Mamo? It's been so long; I hope you remembered all my favorites…" He rummaged further. "Aha! Dango! Bean jam buns! And a cake too! Sweet! Ha ha! I knew I could count on you Mamo-"
Mamoru slammed the basket lid down on Tsuduki's hand.
"AAAAAH! OWWIE OWWIE!" Tsuduki shrieked, pulling his hand free and shaking it in an attempt to stop the pain.
"Keep your greedy hands out of there, Duki!" said Mamoru.
Tsuduki, in spite of his stinging hand, gave Mamoru a naughty smile. "Hey, it's my food, you made it for me; I'll get my hands all over it if I want!"
"I made it for ALL OF US, you-you brainless buffoon, you!"
Kimihiro, who had been remarkably silent, sat on the dog-shaped bench and watched Mamoru and Tsuduki's quarrel, slothfully kicking his legs. Looking to his right, he saw Shizuka sitting beside him, this time not dressed in a girl's kimono but in a black t-shirt with blue shorts.
"Yo," said Shizuka.
Snarling, Kimihiro shoved Shizuka off the bench and knocked him to the ground. Shizuka peered up at Kimihiro with puzzled eyes for a moment, then hurriedly crawled over to his mother.
"Kimihiro!" shouted Hinanjo. "How rude! Why did you do that to Shizuka?"
Kimihiro folded his arms and glowered. "Because he was there!"
"Well, that's no excuse! You could have hurt him!"
"I don't care! He was bugging me!"
"Bugging you? He was just trying to say hello! Now come over here and tell him you're sorry!"
Kimihiro reluctantly got off the bench. On the edge of the blanket, Shizuka was being held by Shino, his head buried in her kimono in an attempt to hide his irritation.
"Hey," said Kimihiro, approaching Shizuka and Shino.
Shizuka looked up, wearing an annoyed frown. "What?"
"I'm sorry I pushed you," said Kimihiro.
"No you're not." Shizuka looked away and laid his head back down on Shino's chest.
"What do you mean I'm not?" Kimihiro retorted.
"'Cause that's what you said last time," said Shizuka.
"Well…well this time I mean it, okay?"
Shizuka sat up and sighed. "Okay. But you BETTER mean it." He turned to Shino. "Lemme go now. I feel better."
Shino released her grip on him, and he inched towards the picnic basket. Kimihiro sat down on the blanket beside him, but quickly turned his back and scowled.
Shizuka eyed the basket. "Whatcha bring, Uncle Mamo?"
"Uncle Mamo?" snapped Mamoru, glaring at Tsuduki.
Tsuduki grinned and scratched the back of his neck. "Well, Dad always did say you were his other son…"
Mamoru shook his head. He turned to Shizuka and pointed at Tsuduki. "Don't listen to that silly uncle of yours," he said, "just call me Mr. Watanuki, all right?"
"Ummm…okay," said Shizuka. "Whatcha bring, Mr. Watanuki?"
"Much better," said Mamoru. "And to answer your question: all sorts of things!" He opened the basket. Tsuduki leaned forward and tried to reach inside, but Mamoru gave him a look that sent him cowering back. "Now, let's see here…" he dug around in the basket, "…ah, here's some inari-zushi; do you like that?"
"It's my favorite," said Shizuka.
"That's a new one," said Shino, "yesterday it was yakisoba."
"Inari-zushi it is then," said Mamoru. "Now what would you like, Kimi?"
"A big piece of cake!" said Kimihiro.
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait," said Mamoru, "that's only for dessert."
"But I want it nooowww!" Kimihiro squealed, putting on his best big-eyed pouting face.
"I'm sorry, but you'll just have to be patient."
"Can't I have just a little bite?"
"No."
"A reeeeallly little bite?"
"Kimihiro, that's enough!" Hinanjo interjected. "Dad said no!"
Kimihiro clenched his fists. "Grrrr! RULES!"
Mamoru continued rummaging through the basket's contents. "What would you like besides cake?"
"Well Shizuka's uncle said you made dango-"
"-I meant something that's NOT dessert."
Kimihiro sighed. "Rice balls…I guess…"
"Good choice," said Mamoru. "And you, Shino?"
"Everything you make is always so wonderful, Mamoru," said Shino, "you know I have a hard time choosing!"
Mamoru blushed. "Well if it makes things any easier, I made plenty of karage…I haven't forgotten how much you love my recipe."
Shino smiled. "You are the sweetest thing!"
Now Mamoru's face was redder (and hotter) than ever before. "Please, Shino…" But Shino just laughed at him cutely, which only made things much worse.
Clearing his throat and trying to shake off Shino's fawning, Mamoru turned to Hinanjo. "And what about you?"
"Spring rolls," said Hinanjo. "That is, if someone hasn't already gotten into them…"
"What?"
Hinanjo frowned and pointed at the picnic basket. Mamoru turned around and saw that Tsuduki was up to his old tricks again. Furious, he yanked Tsuduki's arm away from the food and gripped it tightly. "Duki, I TOLD you to stay out of there!"
Tsuduki pulled free from Mamoru's clutches with little struggle. "Hey, hey! What's the big deal? Everyone else got to choose!"
"What YOU were doing was not choosing," said Mamoru, "it was TAKING. There's a distinct difference, and it's about time you learned it!" He sighed and began getting the food out of the basket. "You Doumekis and your appetites…"
"You Watanukis and your hysterics," Tsuduki playfully countered.
Mamoru whirled around and brandished his fist. "You want hysterics; I'll bloody well show you hysterics!"
Shino giggled at her brother and friend as though she were watching some sort of wonderful comedy routine, but Hinanjo gained no such amusement from the skirmish. "Quiet! Both of you! I'd rather cut my own ears off than to hear any more of your nonsense!"
That quieted them down instantly. "Well then…no need to show me, Mamo," said Tsuduki, "looks like your wife's already filled the hysterics quota for today."
Hinanjo folded her arms and scowled. "I'm not hysterical," she declared, "I'm just not afraid to speak my mind."
Tsuduki smirked. "Well, I think maybe both you and your hubby oughta take a serious chill pill. Just relax once in a while and live it up…like I'm about to do once I get my hands on some tempura!" His smirk changed to an adorable pout not unlike the one Kimihiro had tried to pull off earlier. "Please, Mamo, pretty pretty please?" He flaunted all his teeth in an expectant grin.
Mamoru sighed and handed over the tempura, then gave everyone else their respective selections. After they had all received their fare, they said "itadakimasu!"together, then dug in.
Tsuduki began shoveling the much-desired tempura into his mouth at once. Mamoru rolled his eyes and shook his head; he had seen this kind of gluttony from Tsuduki many times in the past, and he found it every bit as foolish now as he did back then. Shino, despite being a Doumeki, had none of her brother's voracity, and while she passionately loved Mamoru's cooking, she enjoyed her karage quite peacefully. But oh, how Mamoru could cook…
She recalled her first experience with Mamoru's culinary talent; he had made karage for her on that day as well. She recalled how she had bestowed upon him praise that sent him into a frenzy of joy (and much blushing): that he would certainly make wonderful food for his future family, who would love it just as much as she did. Hearing Hinanjo compliment him on the spring rolls he'd made, she smiled with satisfaction, for her prediction had indeed come true. And not just her prediction, but the hope buried within it as well-the hope for him to find happiness. After all, she had decided that as long as Mamoru was happy, then she would be happy as well.
Yes, Mamoru was certainly very, very happy; the more she watched and listened to him and his wife, the more evident it became. She kept her eyes squarely on him, memory after memory still flowing freely into her mind…and then her smile began to fade.
Raising his chopsticks to his mouth, Mamoru took note of Shino and the forlorn look upon her face. "Shino?"
She perked up.
"Are you all right?" Mamoru asked.
Shino nodded. "I…well, I…" She looked down. "I was just remembering the first time you cooked for me."
"Ah, I see," said Mamoru. "But shouldn't that be a happy memory?"
Shino tried to smile again. "It is."
"What about the first time I made dessert for you? Is that a happy one as well?"
Shino looked up. "Oh yes! The cream puffs! I loved them!"
Mamoru chuckled. "Well, I haven't forgotten that either…I've got some with me that I made just for you."
Shino's eyes lit up. "Oh, thank you SO much!"
"Now there's the Shino I know," said Mamoru, patting her head the way he had so often done in the past. Now it was Shino's turn to blush as the warm bliss of those days flooded over her, ceasing to be a mere memory and softening into a tangible sensation.
After giving her a fond smile, Mamoru resumed eating. Shino likewise turned her attention back to the karage, though a dull ache still vexed her heart and stiffened her joy.
Ignoring the goings-on of the adults, Kimihiro took a bite out of his rice ball. Mamoru had given him three; this was his second and he would soon have the third. After eating the last of it, he reached over for the next one…only to find it gone.
"Huh?" He looked over and saw Shizuka helping himself to the rice ball. "HEY! That's MINE!"
"You weren't eating it," said Shizuka casually.
"I was GONNA!" Kimihiro shook his fist at Shizuka. "Now give it back!"
Shizuka took another bite. "Nope," he said with his mouth full, then swallowed. "You wanna save room for that cake, dontcha?"
"Oh! Right!" said Kimihiro.
"So I'm helpin' ya then." He stuffed the last bit of the rice ball into his mouth.
"I guess so…WAIT! That's not helping! That's RUDE!"
Shizuka picked up some inari-zushi with his chopsticks. "You pushing me was rude."
"But you're ruder!"
"Don't you mean more rude?"
"SHUT UP! I don't know!" Kimihiro sighed and looked in the picnic basket. "Got any pickled veggies in here, Dad?"
"Certainly," said Mamoru, digging through the basket and getting them out. "Nice choice, Kimi! They're ever so good for you."
Kimihiro frowned. "I'm only eatin' em 'cause of Shizuka,"
"Ah! How wonderful! The Doumekis' love of food is encouraging you to eat better!"
Kimihiro wanted to tell his father about Shizuka's rice ball snatching, but said nothing and passively ate the vegetables. He looked over at Shizuka, who was finishing up his last piece of inari-zushi. He remembered the talk he'd had with Mamoru about the Doumekis the day before; he had shrugged off Mamoru's testimony of his fantastic friendship with them, yet he still felt his curiosity being piqued by one statement in particular.
"Umm…Shizuka?" said Kimihiro.
Shizuka looked up, still chewing. "Hmm?"
"My Dad says your people can make spirits go away…is that true?"
"Yeah, my grandpa can."
"But can you?"
Shizuka's eyes widened and he hastily swallowed. "Uhh…I…" he hunched his shoulders up. "I don't know. I've never tried it before."
Kimihiro scrunched his face and tapped the side of his head, thinking. Then an idea hit him, and he smiled. "Hey!" he said.
"What?"
"You wanna go to the other side of the park and play?"
"Play what?"
"Ummm…" He glanced off to the right, trying to think up a fib. "Well…uhh…I-I just thought up this great game! But we can't play it over here 'cause…umm…we…don't have enough room."
"What kind of game?" said Shizuka. "It better not be anything dumb."
"I'll tell you when we get there, okay?"
"Get where?" said Hinanjo.
"Uhh, me and Shizuka wanna go play on the other side of the park," said Kimihiro, "you know, where all the swings and stuff are. And like…right now."
"Now?" said Mamoru. "Don't you want dessert? Some of that cake you were begging me for perhaps?"
"Uhh…uhhh…" Kimihiro shook his head. "N-No thanks…" he patted his belly, "I'm too full."
"How about you, Shizuka?"
"I'll have a bean jam bu-" Kimihiro jabbed him with an elbow and gave him a serious look. "Uh, I mean, no thank you."
"Woo-hoo!" said Tsuduki. "More for me then!" He excitedly reached into the basket.
Shizuka turned to Shino. "Mom, can I go play with Kimihiro?"
"Hmm, what do you think Hinanjo?" said Shino. She leaned closer and muttered, "Do you think it's such a good idea, considering what happened in the mall?"
Hinanjo sighed and frowned.
"Please Mama, pleeeeaaaase?" said Kimihiro.
After a moment of thought, Hinanjo smiled. "Well, all right," she said, "as long as you two have a grown-up with you."
"Darn!" Kimihiro grunted, pounding his fist on the ground.
"S'matter?" said Shizuka.
"Shhh! You be quiet!"
"Tsuduki," said Shino to her brother, who had a skewer of dango raised to his lips, "do you think you could take the boys to the other side of the park and keep an eye on them?"
Tsuduki jolted, dropping the dango. He spun around and stared at his sister in disbelief. "ME?"
"Yes Duki, she said you," said Mamoru sternly.
Tsuduki wilted. "Aww Sis, do I HAVE to?"
"I'm afraid so," said Shino. "The boys can't be running around by themselves."
"Can't Mamo take them?"
"Actually, maybe he could come with you," said Hinanjo. "He could watch Kimihiro and you could watch Shizuka."
Tsuduki let out a long, sniveling sigh. "But what about my dango?"
"You can glut yourself later, Duki," said Mamoru, standing up. "Besides, you've already dropped it in the dirt."
"Oh crap, you're right! I did!" He reached down and picked it up. Mamoru promptly slapped his hand, flinging the dango away.
"What?" said Tsuduki. "No sense in wasting perfectly good food!"
Mamoru yanked Tsuduki's arm. "It stopped being 'perfectly good' once it got covered in dirt!"
"But…but…what about the ten second rule…or is it the twenty second rule…gah, I don't know!"
"Duki, just stop whining and come with me! Your precious dango can wait!"
"All right! I'm coming! Now let go of my arm, okay?"
Mamoru released his grip, and Tsuduki got up. He looked down at Kimihiro and Shizuka. "So…you two ready to go?"
They both nodded.
"All righty then, we're off." He and Mamoru walked on, Shizuka and Kimihiro following. "Well, I guess this isn't so bad," said Tsuduki to the boys, "after all, Uncle Mamo never liked being alone…"
"Don't call me that!" Mamoru barked.
"Why doesn't he like to be called Uncle Mamo?" asked Shizuka.
"Ah, don't mind him," Tsuduki said with a smile, "he's just crabby 'cause he hasn't had me around lately to wipe the smudges off his glasses."
"My glasses happen to be just fine, thank you!" said Mamoru.
Tsuduki laughed, the boys joining in. Mamoru lowered his head and scowled.
They reached the other side of the park, where the playground was located. Hinanjo took Kimihiro to this spot quite often, and under normal circumstances he would have gleefully dashed right over to the swings and merry-go-round. At this moment, however, his focus lay on the grove of trees farther back. He scurried between Mamoru and Tsuduki, and Shizuka came waddling after him.
"Whoa, now!" Tsuduki called. "What's the hurry? Godzilla comin' after ya?"
"We've been waiting to play!" said Kimihiro.
"Not for very long," said Tsuduki, "that was a pretty short walk."
"Well, we were still waiting! Shizuka and I have been really excited about this awesome game I thought up!"
"Oh?" said Mamoru. "And just what is this 'awesome game?'"
Kimihiro flinched. "It's…uhh…well, it's…I-I call it 'Piffle!'"
"What kind of a game is that?" said Shizuka.
"Just you wait, okay?" Kimihiro muttered through gnashed teeth. He then gave Shizuka a clever wink.
"Well, it sure sounds like fun," said Tsuduki. "You two mind if I join ya?"
"Uhh…sorry, it's a game for just two," said Kimihiro. "And…Shizuka and I kinda need to go over by that big tree and…talk about the rules." He grabbed Shizuka's hand and led him to the tree. Once he looked around and made sure they were out of earshot, he turned to Shizuka.
"Okay, here's the deal," Kimihiro whispered. "You see all those trees over there past the swings?"
Shizuka nodded.
"Well, there's this one tree over there that's got a big hole in the bottom, and I think it's haunted."
"Haunted?" said Shizuka.
Kimihiro slammed a hand over Shizuka's mouth. "Shhhh! They'll hear you!" He looked over his shoulder at Mamoru and Tsuduki. They were sitting on a bench some distance away and seemed not to have heard. "Anyway," he continued, "I think there's a ghost hiding out in that tree. I can feel it."
"Feel it?"
"When ghosts are around, I get tingly all over and I feel sick. And whenever I got close to that tree, I felt that way."
"So what are you gonna do?"
"I want you to get it out of there. If you can make spirits go away like your grandpa can, you can get the ghost out of the tree."
Shizuka looked down. "But I told you, I've never tried that."
"Well then, here's your chance to try!"
"But what if I can't do it?"
Kimihiro scowled. "Look, do ya wanna give it a try or not?"
"Well…I…uh, what about your dad and my uncle? Won't they see us?"
"You leave that to me. Wait here." He ran towards the bench, where Mamoru and Tsuduki were caught up in a friendly chat, all the while still minding the boys.
"You see what I mean, Duki?" said Mamoru. "The two of them over there whispering secrets to each other…they're a practically perfect little pair!"
"You really think so?" said Tsuduki.
Mamoru gave him a wry grin. "Well, just who do they remind you of?"
Tsuduki scratched the back of his head. "Uhh…you and my sister."
Mamoru shrugged. "Close enough."
Kimihiro came running up to them. "Dad! Dad!"
"Yes, Kimi?" said Mamoru.
"Umm…" He glanced off to the side, trying to think quickly. Then he smiled. "You wanna tell Shizuka's uncle about the pasgeddy incident?"
"You mean spaghetti incident," said Mamoru, "and I'm not so sure I should tell that story…"
"Aww come on Mamo, tell me!" said Tsuduki. "I love a good story with food in it!"
Mamoru sighed. "Well, all right." He turned to Tsuduki and began telling the story. "So, my mother was visiting…"
Seeing that the two of them were sufficiently distracted, Kimihiro scurried back to Shizuka. "Okay, the coast is clear. Now let's go!" He took Shizuka by the hand and led him to the tree. Soon they approached, and Shizuka saw that it was just as Kimihiro described-a large hollowed-out space rested in the bottom of its trunk. When they were still some inches away, Kimihiro let go of Shizuka's hand and stepped back.
"Why did you stop?" said Shizuka, looking over his shoulder.
"I don't wanna get any closer to it," said Kimihiro. "I'm feelin' pretty bad already." Indeed, Shizuka could see a slight trembling in his friend's limbs.
Shizuka sidled closer to the tree. "What do you want me to do?"
Kimihiro looked at the hole. Above the sounds of birds and the occasional passing car, he could clearly hear a dreadful panting from deep within. He winced at the thought of what the source of this noise could possibly be. On top of the panting, the rotting stench common to unpleasant spirits was beginning to overload his senses.
"Think you can stick your head in there?" he asked Shizuka.
Shizuka bent down for a better look. It was not an enormous hole, but it wasn't small either. "Maybe."
"Okay," said Kimihiro. "Stick your head in the hole and tell the ghost to go away."
"That's it?" said Shizuka. "Just tell it to go? Why can't you do that?"
Kimihiro shook his head angrily. "That never works! Now put your head in that stinkin' hole and get it outta there!"
Shizuka looked at the hole, then Kimihiro, then back to the hole again. He sighed heavily and got down on the ground, crawling up to the hole. Hesitantly he stuck his head inside, moving back slightly to make sure he hadn't become stuck. "Uhh…hello?" he said, his voice echoing in the blackness. "Anybody home?"
As soon as Shizuka put his head in, Kimihiro heard the panting abruptly stop, and immediately afterwards the terrible smell also left. Feeling much better overall, Kimihiro got closer to Shizuka and the tree. "Umm…Shizuka," he said, "I think it might already-"
"You idiot," Shizuka interrupted. "I don't see no ghost…just a bunch of dirt and spider webs and…and…" Now Kimihiro heard another panting sound-this time from Shizuka, and this one sounded much more alarming.
"You okay in there?" said Shizuka. "I think you can come out now…"
Suddenly Shizuka began to cough loudly and forcefully, and in between the coughs was a wheezing that made Kimihiro think Shizuka was going to choke.
"Shizuka! Get outta there!" He grabbed Shizuka's collar and yanked him out of the hole. Shizuka sat up, dead leaves and cobwebs caught in his hair, and his eyes wide with suffering as he gasped for air.
"Are you okay?" said Kimihiro, hastily brushing some dirt and twigs off Shizuka's shoulders.
Shizuka started coughing again. "Go…" he wheezed, "go get my uncle…"
"I can't just leave you here! Can you get up?"
Shizuka hunched over, coughing too badly to answer.
"Come on!" He pulled Shizuka to his feet, then held his hand and rushed back towards Mamoru and Tsuduki.
"…and that's why I never engage in political discussions with taxi drivers," said Mamoru, still chatting away with Tsuduki. "Now, back to the spaghetti…"
"Dad! Dad! Dad!" Kimihiro yelled.
"Aww, just when it was about to get good…" said Tsuduki.
Mamoru turned in the direction of his son's voice. "Yes, what is it now?"
Kimihiro ran up to the bench with Shizuka, himself quite short of breath now. "Something's wrong with Shizuka," he said, "he's coughing and stuff really bad…he told me to get his uncle."
"That would of course be me," said Tsuduki, getting off the bench and picking up his rasping nephew. "It's better if we get him back to his mom. She'll know what to do." He walked off with Shizuka in his arms. "Now, just try to relax," he said to him, "I know it's hard, but if you get all panicky it's just going to make it worse."
"Is he gonna be okay?" Kimihiro asked his father as the two of them walked alongside Tsuduki.
"I'm sure he will," said Mamoru. "Haruka told me this happens to him a lot."
Soon they found their way back to the picnic blanket, where Hinanjo and Shino were still sitting. Shino quickly noticed them, and when she heard her son's labored breathing, there was no need for any explanation from Tsuduki-she knew this situation far too well. As her brother sat Shizuka down in front of her, she reached for her purse, pulled out Shizuka's inhaler, and gave it to him. With his distresses soon gone after using it (although he never found it to be quite as effective as Haruka's herbs), he handed it back to Shino and she put it back in her purse.
"What caused it this time, Shizuka?" she asked him.
"Kimihiro made me stick my head in a tree trunk," said Shizuka bluntly.
"I did NOT!" shrieked Kimihiro.
"There was a bunch of dirt and old leaves and stuff in there," Shizuka continued, ignoring him. "It made me cough."
"He's lying!" said Kimihiro. "Lying, lying, lying!"
Hinanjo looked sternly at her son. "I don't think Shizuka'sthe one lying here, Kimihiro. Now, why did you make him stick his head in the tree?"
"Yeah," Tsuduki chimed in, sitting down on the blanket alongside Mamoru. "I thought you two were playing some game…was that part of it or something?"
Kimihiro looked at Tsuduki, then his mother, then Shizuka. He shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "Yeah…yeah it was…I'm sorry." He peered up at Shino. "You're not mad at me are you, Miss…uh, Miss Shizuka's Mom?"
Shino laughed slightly at the name. "No, I can understand. You just wanted to play. But Shizuka's…well, he's a little delicate. Just try to remember that next time you two play, all right?"
Kimihiro nodded, relieved that she didn't ask further and find out what they were really up to. Shizuka sat with his head drooped low and his eyes closed, and Kimihiro could swear he heard a faint sniffling sound.
"Umm, you okay?" Kimihiro asked, leaning closer to Shizuka.
Shizuka didn't answer.
"Are you crying?"
Shizuka quickly shook his head no, but another sniffle made Kimihiro quite unconvinced.
"Shizuka come on, what's the matter?"
Shizuka sighed heavily and looked up, his yellow eyes growing watery. "I can't do nothin'!"
"What do you mean nothin'?" said Kimihiro.
Shizuka rubbed his eyes. "I'll never be like my grandpa, or Gentaro…I can't make spirits go away! I couldn't make that one in the tree go away, could I?"
"Actually, uh," said Kimihiro, "I think you did."
Shizuka perked up. "Really?"
"Yeah. After you stuck your head in there, the tingly feeling I get when ghosts are around went away. I think you got it out of there."
Shizuka put his hands on the blanket and leaned closer to Kimihiro, his eyes wide. "Really? Did I?"
"I really think so," said Kimihiro. "So, umm…thanks." He smiled halfheartedly. "Now I can go play by that tree without getting all woozy."
A stunned look came upon Shizuka's face which was soon replaced by a big, grateful smile uncharacteristic of him. He threw his arms around Kimihiro and gave him a hug.
"Ahh! Leggo! Leggo!" squealed Kimihiro, pushing Shizuka away. "I still think you're weird, you know!"
"I think you're weird too," said Shizuka, struggling to reclaim his grasp.
Mamoru covered his mouth with his hands, laughing so hard he was on the brink of tears. Tsuduki looked at him oddly. "What's so funny?"
Mamoru uncovered his mouth. "I…I just…" He grinned toothily and pounded his fist on the ground, still trying to suppress his glee. "They…are just…a riot!" He burst into laughter again, clutching his stomach.
Tsuduki watched his nephew's tussle with his new friend for a moment, then soon he could feel a good laugh creeping up his gullet as well. "On second thought," he said, "maybe they're not so much like you and my sister after all."
Mamoru took a breath and stopped laughing. "What do you mean?"
Tsuduki gave Mamoru a hearty slap on the back. "They're more like us,ya old four-eyed sourball! Wasn't that what you were getting at earlier?"
Mamoru frowned and rubbed his back. "Yes," he mumbled, "and it's a much more terrible comparison than I thought…"
"But hey," said Tsuduki, putting a hand on Mamoru's shoulder, "if they really are like us, then they'll be fussin' and feudin' for a long, long, long time."
Mamoru raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You know, just like we've always done. But look where all that crap's gotten us." He winked playfully.
Mamoru smiled. "You're a daft one, Duki. You always have been. Daft…and clever." He ruffled Tsuduki's hair. Tsuduki laughed and shoved him away.
"Aww, don't," he said. "Now if you're done with your flattery, I'm ready for more dango!" He reached into the basket and grabbed two skewers, one in each hand.
"I want some too," said Shizuka. Tsuduki handed his nephew one of the skewers.
"Me too!" said Kimihiro.
"Only if you say I'm not weird," said Shizuka.
"If I said you weren't weird, I'd be lying!"
Shizuka stuck the dango in his mouth and plugged his ears.
Mamoru watched them again, this time not finding their antics quite so funny…nostalgic was more like it. "Yes, Duki…just like us." He began to laugh softly again. "But maybe…somehow…even better."