消えるな。

"Niro-Nii, it's hot, isn't it? Here have some cold drink!" They just got out of the vending machine, so they're absolutely chilling. Perfect for this heat.

"You know, it's weird because I haven't been to the beach much here. I used to go to the beach with my friends back home every summer for vacation. We'd eat all sorts of delicious food and play in the waters."

She wishes she could have done all that with Souma.

His hands meet hers with a grateful smile, taking the canned drink into his palms before looking over the label. It's nothing Watanuki has ever had before, yet it feels nostalgic all the same-- out in the summer heat with someone dear, picking drinks from the vending machine to keep them cool.

.. it's not something he's done in nearly a decade. Even with all the freedom he had on the island-- it was if he forgot that this was something he was allowed to do.

"At most, I've only visited the boardwalk; I don't make it a habit to go onto the beach, usually.. I suppose it may be different here, but swimming was something I was unable to do at all when I was younger. Many spirits tend to gather in large bodies of water, so it was always too dangerous for me to even go near them."

The shopkeeper thinks on it, however; smiling at the thought of the three of them together.

As Watanuki scooted closer to Shadow, the shade wordlessly leaned against him, pressing his shoulder against his arm.

It wasn't often at all that Shadow reciprocated his affections.. but if he felt he could now, even after everything Watanuki had said.. it made him incredibly happy. Smiling once more, he decided to wrap his arm around the boy; allowing him to lean against his side instead.

".. but it is because of you that I can look at this world as 'home'. Even if there are things I miss from the place I come from.. I am happy with my life here, because you are in it. Because I know that you will always greet me before you go to sleep in the morning, because you do your best to cook meals for Hanabi and I; and because you allowed me a place in your life."

Though his smile was small, it was incredibly genuine; shining in the corners of his eyes as he looked at the boy.

Damn, Watanuki could ramble. But, like any teenager would, when things were grossly sentimental. He put on a grandeur display that was almost comical in 'rejecting' such sentiments.

"Who feels bad?! I-I didn't say anything about feeling bad!" His second poor attempt at gas lighting, this one arguably worse because he was so flustered.

Shadow was a master at deflating himself, though, and sank in his seat, making himself practically shrink.

His smile became a little more genuine at that, even when Shadow spoke poorly of himself. All the shopkeeper could do was give a shake of his head, before speaking again.

"It's not a waste when it's how I truly feel. Besides.."

".. you don't need to be 'worthy' of receiving kindness. You don't need to be worthy of my care. I feel about you the way that I do, and there is no changing that."

Eventually, the man lifted his head, reaching out again to pat the boy on the head this time. Only briefly, of course.

No matter how much he tried to refute, there was still a sinking feeling settling over the shade. The boy barely lifted his head up, revealing the most pathetic frown that Watanuki had probably ever seen from the child.

It was spoken matter-of-factly, but there was no vitriol behind Watanuki's words. His voice was quiet still, but perhaps almost softer than before; resting his chin on the back of his hand as he glanced back at the boy.

"It isn't about being able to handle yourself. I realize that you can-- even told you as such, many times."

".. but family depends on one another. And that's what you are to me, Shadow-kun. Even if we aren't related by blood.. there is no one else in this world who will ever understand me as you do. For that, and for many other reasons.. that is why I wish to be there for you when I can. Not to hold it over your head, not to make you feel small-- but because I care about you. When you are happy, I am as well; and if I can do anything to help those feelings.. I always will."

Perhaps he should have said such sooner, even though Shadow was never keen to listen to Watanuki when he spoke like this. Always worrying too much, always being 'sappy', as he put it. But perhaps this time, the boy might see his words beyond that. And if not, well..

It didn't have to be be the only time Watanuki would remind him.

"It wasn't originally...But then he found me!!" That was right. "Then I was still sneaking out, so I couldn't tell you then..."

"...And then I got better, was still seeing him. But, then too much time had passed to feasibly bring it up..."

"...I....Was just going to play coy and make you think you knew he'd been here the whole time." The shade admitted lamely, as he was defeated. From his face being sorely planted against the tabletop, he didn't dare lift his head, only uttering the most pathetic sounding:

".. had I known, I wouldn't have been so hard on you," was what he settled on at first, his voice quiet, steady. "You'd likely decline my offer, but I would make sure you would get to him safely, even if it was just Mugetsu who escorted you-- or leave the shop so you could have time to yourselves here. I understand how important he is to you.. did you think I would get in the way of your spending time with him?"

"Shadow-kun, you must know that wouldn't work on me. Not with something like this. My relationship with Syaoran may be different to the one you share with Vio-kun, but I could still never overlook something so important to you. I'm.. disappointed, if you truly think I would."

When his hand fell away from his face, it revealed a glimpse of distinct sadness; though the shopkeeper kept his eyes trained away, wondering if he'd crossed a line with what he spoke. The last thing he wanted was to chase the boy away, when he quite literally informed Watanuki that he would already be leaving.. but how else could he make it clear that the boy could trust him? Depend on him when he needed to?

Just like the family Watanuki saw them as.

something, something about watanuki and yuuko's kiseru

+ oh

The air isn't uncomfortable, but she knows this is something serious. He reaches for her hand, and she gladly has him take hold of it. "What is it?" She then asks. The Request, she was ever so curious about it now.

He didn't want the formalities anymore. Wanted to be closer as a true family. After all, what close family used formalities with each other? Even with her own mother, she didn't use formalities. They were close. As strict and stern as she was, they were close.

"Kimihiro," She whispers his name. It feels so foreign on her tongue. As if she never knew that this was her name. She's seen it written, but she can't remember if she's ever heard it spoken. "I've been wanting to actually ask you this for a while, too," she admits a little shyly. With her free hand, she places it over his, "But for whatever reason, the thought of coming to you and asking had me feeling a little too shy, you know? Hehehe, I guess there really wasn't anything to be shy about. We were both feeling the same way! You...You can tell me everything on your mind if you want. Anything, difficult or not even anything difficult, you can talk to me. I know I can talk to you, too.

If...If ANYONE gives you a hard time, I'll kick their butts, just as I know you'd have my back, too."

".. yes, it seems we were. I suppose that just goes to show how much we care about one another," the smile on his face softened as he laughed; an airy, gentle sound. "I did not want to cross your boundaries.. nor did you want to do the same with mine. But it seems that would never have been a problem."

He laughed once more when Hanabi mentioned protecting him from anyone who gave him a hard time-- and at that sentiment, he nodded his head.

"Of course, I will always do the same for you. You are my precious family. If I can help it.. I will do everything I can to not let you come into harm's way." An image flashed across his mind, of a dark place they were both dragged to; reaching out to her before he was taken away. Briefly, the look on his face became wry; closing his eyes for a moment before he spoke, "Never again."

"Likewise, if there is anything you wish to ask of me.. please do not hesitate. Whether it's in regards to a wish, this shop, anything.. I do not wish to keep secrets from you. You have shared with me a great deal of yourself-- and I would like to do the same."

Though, at Hanabi's sudden exclamation.. there was a quick switch in Watanuki's expression. He blinked widely for a moment in surprise, as, almost uncharacteristically, a sudden flush of colour lightly dusted the surface of his cheeks.

"Eh--?"

To be called family was one thing.. but for Hanabi to refer to him as that-- it was more than enough to catch him off guard, in the most wonderful way he could imagine. He tried to recover some, smiling behind the hand he suddenly brought up to his face; yet the evidence of fluster did not seem to be going away anytime soon..

And if that were the case: he'd be right.

It was a rare sight, to see Watanuki so caught-off-guard. One moment, his expression was gentle; understanding, joyful. Then the next, quite literally aghast; as he blinked widely, processing the words Shadow had spoken over, and over again--

Until it finally settled on.. well. Something else.

".... months?? He's been here for months?" the shopkeeper repeated the news, the supportive hand on the boy's back conveniently slipping away.. "And you deliberately kept that from me..?"

Colors are dulled at first, all but the gold of the other boy's eyes. Muffled voiced turn clearer as emotions surge. This... is Watanuki's past.

The hand cusping Lilli's shoulder had let go, perhaps in his shock; just barely hovering above as he stood there, silent for a moment. Although he was relieved to finally receive a response from her, after calling out to her again, and again, and again-- that was the last thing the shopkeeper had expected to hear.

The boy with the golden eyes. And she was looking directly at Watanuki as she asked-- a single tear rolling from her opaque eye.

There was no way she could have meant.. how could she have known? When that person had never once stepped foot in this world before?

With lips parted still, eyes wide, he eventually found a way to ground himself again; reaching out to gently wipe away the still running tear from his friend's cheek. He sat, then; reaching for her hands, as an almost solemn look rested upon his features.

".. tell me."