(Been awhile since I wrote xxxholic, but the idea came to me last night and would not be ignored. Probably stupid, but...thought I'd share)

Watanuki couldn't see anything. It was so dark with that black mist that choked at his lungs. This was all Yuuko's fault. It was supposed to be simple, but it never was. Just go to the park and pick up a broken jug. It was never that easy and he screamed as he felt something rake at his leg. "Doumeki!" he cried out, flailing his arms. Even if he couldn't see anything, he knew his eyes were hazy and his lungs hurt, trying to breathe in the polluted air.

"Oi!" He heard the calm voice somewhere behind him and managed to get to his feet, not sure when he had fallen to start with, and stumbled over. He rammed right into a body that he could feel by the very firmness of his chest was his rival. As soon as he touched him, some of the mist began to clear. He could actually see the archer he was clinging to and a few paces in front of him. At least he could breathe a little easier. His lungs had felt like they were going to seize up any minute.

"Keep looking at it."

"Why?!" he demanded. He didn't want to have to even think about that creepy, disgusting thing made of just eyes and limbs, much less look at it ever again!

"So I know where to aim."

The unruffled calm of Doumeki got under his nerves…but right then it was sorely needed. He was too busy panicking right then to have any coherent type of thought. "Hurry it up then!" he spat as he unwillingly turned his gaze toward the mass in the center of the playground so that Doumeki could see out of their combined eye.

He shifted, gripping all along that firm chest and to his shoulders and moved to cling to his back. Watanuki knew right then that if he let go, he'd pass out. He tried not to move too much only to let out a yell, causing Doumeki to stumble, when something caught his ankle in sharp teeth. The edge of the boy's bow slammed into whatever it was, causing it to let go.

"I can't…aim like this," Doumeki muttered and yanked him to the front, bracing Watanuki's back against his chest. It was appreciated, though he'd never, ever say that, because it was keeping him up with his two wounded legs. It was only when he found one hand gripping the handle of the bow and another grabbing his other hand.

"What are you doing, Doumeki?!" he screeched.

"Shut up and just listen to me," the boy murmured into his ear, his breath ruffling his hair. He shivered before he could help it. That gloved hand, still in his club archery gear, was over his both on the shaft and the string of the bow. "Center yourself. Stare at the target. Don't let your gaze shift." Feet nudged at his, separating them in mimicry of Doumeki's. "Calm down. Breathe." Their touch was keeping him conscious and supporting him.

Slowly Doumeki began to pull back the string and Watanuki was amazed at the sheer force necessary to pull that longbow back. Doumeki was doing the hard work, his hand was just going with because of their combined grip…and it still felt like it was straining his muscles. The hand on the shaft squeezed his as the bow began to shake from the sheer force. That Doumeki held such…power in his hands. He had never considered just how much it took to use this and what…discipline. Doumeki had dedicated his life to the bow and it showed. He was stronger than he would have expected because of it and it was no wonder he was never afraid—

"Feel my heartbeat, Watanuki. Count them."

How could he be so calm?! His heartbeat wasn't racing like Watanuki's was and somehow just counting the quick, but mostly calm heartbeats centered him. He began to tune out everything around him, just staring down at the roiling mass that was slowly trying to get moving toward them. Doumeki's body heat was invading him and he took strength from the sheer grip of the boy's hands. It was that heartbeat that he kept counting even as the number kept higher that allowed him to hold the bow steady, his fingers twined with Shizuka's.

"Now."

The word was barely whispered, right into his hair, but Watanuki heard it. He let go at the precise moment that Doumeki did and arrow, a beam of golden light, burst from the bow. If he could have, he would have held his breathe in awe and hope that he didn't throw off the archer's aim at all.

It held. He should have trusted the boy better. It landed center mass and there was an unearthly scream from the spirit as it dissipated, taking the black smoke with it. Suddenly he was breathing in clean, clear air. Forgetting the pain in his legs, he turned his head enough to look up at Doumeki's face, unable to hide the awe that he was feeling. He was only going through the motions and that was a pale imitation. Suddenly, he had more than a budding respect, he had awe of the boy that had mastered such an art.

He felt pressure at his waist as the hand that held the string back had wrapped around his hips and he realized then that he needed it. His ankle and calve was screaming at him in pain and he would have fallen if he didn't have the support. "…Bet…you practiced…that move…with all the…girls…"

"No. That was the first time I've ever fired with someone in front of me like that." There was a pause and a slight smile came to Doumeki's lips. "We made a good team."

"…No argument," he said, the only thing that came to mind as the silence filled. For the first time, he had…protected himself. Doumeki had…let him. An answering smile finally touched Watanuki's face for the first time as he looked at the archer. "We really did."

Doumeki stared at him for a long moment and was it his imagination that the arm around his waist tightened just a little? The bow they both still held lowered. For one terrifying moment, he thought they might actually k-k-kiss—

"Should I carry you too?"

The moment shattered, Watanuki shouted, "You bastard!"